THE first day of the soyabean procurementprocesslaunched here on Thursday for the current season witnessed prices between Rs 3,800 and Rs 4,200 per quintal-muchless than the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 4,960 fixed for the commodity. Expertsin the field attributed the low price to the high moisture containedin the new arrival of soyabean.

Theysaid that there wasmoisturein therange of 17- 22 per cent in the seeds due to which the farmerscouldnot get a satisfactory price. As per the rule, good quality seeds with notmore than 10percentmoisture may attract MSP. One of the brokers told The Hitavada that most of the farmers had brought soyabean with a high percentage of moisture. “It happened because of heavy rainsin soyabean growing areas in the recent past. However, we expect the moisture content to dropin thecomingdays and the farmers are likely to get a satisfactory price of their crop,” he added. On the other hand, some of the farmers, who sold old stock ofsoyabean,withlessmoisture, at a price of Rs 4,451. The Agricultural Produce MarketCommittee (APMC)procured about 1,200 quital of soyabean from the farmers on the first day. At the formal function held at Kalamna market yard, the APMC office-bearers felicitated the farmers by giving the floral bouquets.

 

Director of APMCAtul Senad felicitated Goverdhan Wanjari, the first farmer to sell soyabean in the market. President of the committee Sarang Wankhede; Secretary Swapnil Vairagade; Vice President Rameshwar Hirudkaralso felicitated theother farmers. Alargenumberofbrokersand farmers were also present. In the meanwhile, Ajay Parmar, Head of Maharashtra Chapter of Soybean Processors AssociationofIndia (SOPA),said theMSP forsoyabean for thecurrent season is Rs 4,960. “Itis valid foraperiodof three monthsstarting from thebeginning of the crop arrival season,” he said.