Title - SOPA seeks more railway rakes to augment export

Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has urged the western railway to increase railway rakes during upcoming Soya season.SOPA coordinator and spokesperson Rajesh Aggarwal said in a press release that in September this year India exported mere 2,864 tonne soyabean husk while last year the export was 2,25,922 tonnes. For current fiscal from April till September 2012, 837078 tonne soya husk was imported which for the same duration last year was 1128852 tonnes. This is 25.85 % less.SOPA has written to DRM, Ratalam and to the general manager railways (western railways). It has been pointed out that harvesting season has begun and soon 'mandis' would be flooded with hundreds of thousands of tonne of soyabean. Quick transportation would ensure good price to the farmer and reduce crop damage during open storage.Madhya Pradesh is the highest Soybean producing state of India. It is currently a major crop grown during the Kharif, or monsoon, season (July-October) in the dry-land areas of central and peninsular India. Madhya Pradesh is known as the 'soybean state' of India, comprising 55% of the total national area of soybean cultivation.The first estimate of soybean crop survey: Kharif 2012 says that soybean crop production in the state was likely to be good this year. Soya crop suffered in four districts of Madhya Pradesh which include Harda, Hoshangabad, Guna, Raisen and partially in Sehore due to excess rains and waterlogging. No major disease and insects attack were seen in most of the areas.

The weather this year so far has been favourable for soybean crop. Now the crop is under harvest and will pick-up by 10 October.