An empirical assessment of marketed surplus and losses of soybean crop in Maharashtra

The study showed that almost the entire soybean crop production is sold as marketed surplus. However, the high magnitude of loss of crop during pre-and post harvest operations significantly depressed crop production. The loss of crop estimated at 14–16 per cent of production during preand post-harvest stages was considered as a matter of great concern since soybean is one of the most important oilseed crops cultivated in India. The study suggested several measures to curb pre-and postharvest losses of crop with a view to augment its production volume, and reduce its import dependency. The measures to curb pre-harvest losses encompassed providing proper guidance to the farmers on pests and disease control measures, imparting proper training to the farmers about timely and low cost controlling measures of insects, pests and disease attacks, subsidization of insecticides, pesticides and weedicides for controlling input prices of soybean, etc. The measures suggested in the study to curb post harvest losses included adoption of scientific methods of various post-harvest operations, improvement in marketing practices, quick diversion of produce in the market after harvest, timely harvesting of crop, and developing technologies and techniques that are more appropriate to the needs of small scale as well as large farmers. It is expected that measures and programme initiatives such as adoption of improved pre- and post-harvest technology and water and pest control practices will not only increase the productivity of crop and their quality but these are also likely to substantially minimize the post-harvest losses, increase the total crop area cover and generate adequate quality surplus for their conversion into value-added food products.