Indian soybean production expected to decrease this year

India’s soybean production is expected to drop as patchy monsoon rains in August stunted the crop in some key growing areas, industry officials and farmers said on Thursday

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India uses soybeans to manufacture soyoil, which helps the country cut its hefty edible oil imports, while the by-product soymeal is used for animal feed and exported mainly to Southeast Asia.

Farmers grow soybeans once a year during the monsoon season in June and July and harvest the main summer oilseed crop from October.

Indian farmers planted 12.5 million hectares of soybean this year, compared with 12.4 million hectares in the yearago period, according to the farm ministry’s latest data on crop sowing.

“The rainfall deficit is likely to result in lower yields, and that’s why I believe that soybean production could be lower than last year,” said B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Mumbai-based industry body the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA).

Although rains have revived, some regions are still dry in western India, he said.

Monsoon rains, critical for the soybean crop, came in 36% below average in August, although rains have revived this month to rebound to 7% above average.