Acute shortage of Indian soybean seed this season

Date:04-14-2014

While the Ministry of Agriculture claims to have all contingency plans in place to beat the affect of possible lower rainfalls due to El Nino threat this monsoon season, India's largest oilseed crop faces even bigger threat of its productivity on seed supply shortage. India faces over 20% shortage of soybean seed supply this kharif season despite record high production in the last few years.

Data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture showed that India requires 342,906 tonnes of quality hybrid soybean seeds for the 2014 kharif sowing season of which its availability stands at 273,289 tonnes resulting into shortage of 69,617 tonnes. The shortage, however, may affect India's soybean output. India's largest oilseed - soybean - is 100% kharif crop sown with the onset of monsoon season for harvesting in September - October.

A senior Agriculture Ministry official said, "There is no shortage of seed for cereals. However, availability of soybean seeds is lower by about 69,617 tonnes as compared to their requirement." In order to augment availability of soyabean seed in the country, he suggested states to take initiatives for awareness campaign, identification off arm saved seeds, use of seed planters and dibblers etc.

The official also advised states to ensure best use of available seeds of soybean and minimize their wastage. India's soybean output achieved lifetime high record in 2012-13 at 14.66 million tonnes as compared to 12.21 million tonnes in the previous year. With the government raising minimum support price (MSP) consistently to attract more farmlands towards soybean cultivation, shortage of seed may playa spoilsport. With the El Nino threat is feared to lower rainfalls, the seed shortage may become more severe in case replanting is required. El Nino causes uneven distributions or even decline in rainfalls.

J.S.Sandhu, Agriculture Commissioner in the Agriculture Ministry suggested state governments to tackle the problem of shortage of soybean seeds through minimizing wastage and expanding its efficient use in the field. In fact, the Ministry of Agriculture estimated lower soybean output this year at 12.45 million tonnes in the second advance estimates presented in February.

The output may fall further, in case seed shortage becomes more severe due to possibility of crop damage in uneven distribution of rainfalls this season. Guar is another crop which faces seed shortage this year. As per Agriculture Ministry estimates, India faces 674 tonnes of guar seed shortage this sowing season to meet its requirement at 7,445 tonnes as against its current availability of 6,771 tonnes.