Introduction:
In India soybean ranks third in oilseeds after groundnut and rapeseed/mustard.Soybean is considered to be a most economical and valuable agricultural commodity as, it has good adaptability towards a wide range of soil and climate. On an average dry matter basis, Soybean contains about 40% protein and 20% oil. Soybean is very nutritious - the protein and oil components in soybean are not only in high quantity but also in high quality. Soy oil contains high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, so it is healthy oil.
Soybean had been cultivated since 2800 B.C. in China. It, however acquired global importance only in the later half of 18th century.
Soybean in India has experienced a phenomenal increase both in area and production during the last two decades. The crop is at a take-off stage.
The rapid growth in soybean cultivation has placed India on the world map of soybean.
India ranks fifth in the world in area and production after USA, Brazil, China and Argentina.

Growing Area:
In India Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) is the leading state in producing soybean followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. On average, Madhya Pradesh produces 74 percent of India's total soybean crop; Maharashtra, 13 percent; and Rajasthan, 10 percent.

Soybean Sowing-Harvesting Season in most of India:

The soybean crop cycle in India starts from June the climax arrives in December in the form of Harvest,  the other months are lean period for the crop of Soybean.

Soybean varieties suitable for different agro climatic zones of India

Demand-Supply Scenario in India :
Soybean has attained a vital status in agriculture and oil economy of India. The country presently produces bout 6 million tonnes of soybean per annum. Out of this, 5% is used for food and feed, 10% for seed and 5% for oil extraction (Nawab Ali, 1996).
India is the fifth largest producer of soybeans in the world, with average production of 4,809 TMT (Thousand Metric Tonnes) of soybeans. Average consumption in India is 4,812 TMT of soybeans, giving them the rank of sixth largest consumer of beans in the world. India is primarily a closed economy in the soybean arena. India's imports average a mere 8 TMT, while exports average 0 TMT. India every year exports around 2-3 Million Metric Tonnes de-oiled cake (DOC) and earns valuable foreign exchange.
 

Soybean Uses:
Soybean has versatile end uses. It has been used as a human food, animal feed, and industrial material.
Soybean uses can be broadly divided into three major categories:

1. Oil products

2. Whole Soybean products

3. Soybean protein products

Whole Soybean:
Whole soybean products are primarily edible products such as the seed, bean sprouts, baked soybean, full fat soy flour used in various products of baking, roasted soybean used as confectioneries, soy nut butter, soy coffee, and other soy derivatives of oriental foods.
Whole soybeans are the edible seed of the soybean plant. Whole soybeans can be cooked and used in sauces, stews, and soups. Whole soybeans that have been soaked can be roasted for snacks.

Soybean Meal:
The soybean meal remaining after oil extraction and was used for fertilizer and animal feed
Solvent-extracted dehulled soybean meal is produced by cracking, heating and flaking soybeans.
Soybean meal is considered a premium product because of its high digestibility, high energy content and consistency. Properly processed dehulled soybean meal is an excellent source of protein and is used extensively in feed for swine, beef and dairy cattle, poultry, and aquaculture.

Soybean protein products:
Processed soybean protein products are divided into three categories based on protein content: Soy flour, Concentrates, and Isolates.
Soy flour is made from roasted soybeans ground into a fine powder and contains 50 percent protein.

Soy Oil:
Despite being an exotic crop in India, its successful cultivation during the last two decades has helped in bridging the gap between availability and national demand of edible oil. After harvesting, soybean oil is extracted from the cooked, flaked beans using the commercial solvent hexane. Next, the resulting crude soybean oil undergoes further refinement - degumming, refining, bleaching, and deodorizing - to remove substances that affect the color, flavor, and stability of the oil. The substances removed during processing include free fatty acids, phosphatides, color bodies, sterols, ketones, and peroxides. 

Soybean Prices:
By observing domestic price trend of Soybean from four markets we can say, when crops come in the market after harvesting during Oct-Dec, prices comes down

TOP