Due to the record soyabean production, India’s export of soyameal has risen sharply. The exports during October 2007 and March 2008 have risen to 3.2 million tonne from 2.7 million tonne recorded last year. This is a significant increase of more than 17%.
According the soyabean processor association of India (SOPA), here has been significant increase in exports to Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
India’s soyameal exports to Philippines have increased to 77.52 thousand tonne from 26.13 thousand tonne recorded last year, a hefty increase of 196%. Similarly, the exports to Singapore have gone up to 1.4 lakh tonne from 75 thousand tonne reported last year, an increase of 87%. Also the exports to Sri Lanka are up to 55 thousand tonne against 30 thousand tonne reported last year.
Besides these three countries, India’s soyameal exports have also increased significantly to Vietnam, Japan and South Korea. “In March, 2008, due the record production of Soyabean in the country, the crushing was better than last year,” Rajesh Agrawal, coordinator, SOPA told FE.
The exports of soyameal to Vietnam increased to 1.1 million tonne from 8 lakh tonne recorded in the previous fiscal while exports to Japan increased to 6.9 lakh tonne from 5.3 lakh tonne in the corresponding period last fiscal. The country also exports soyameal to Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. According to SOPA, the exports are at $ 410 a tonne. Soyabean season is from October to September.
Soyabean production in the country grew by more than 23.68% last year due to better use of technology and availability of quality seeds to farmers. Out of 9 million hectares of land under soyabean cultivation in the country, more than 4 million hectares are in Madhya Pradesh while 2.7 million hectares and 0.7 million hectares in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Other states actively promoting soyabean cultivation are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, U P and Chhattisgarh.