Sown the right way, it shall pay

M.S. Bajwa

SOYBEAN and its products are highly nutritious, containing up to 45 per cent high-quality protein, 22 per
cent oil, 5 per cent minerals and vitamins. This crop can be grown for high productivity and profitability in
many parts of Punjab and there is a huge market for soy products. In spite of all this, its cultivation has not
been taken up on a large scale.
Some farmers who started growing it a few years ago have also stopped. In fact, the average yield levels
obtained in Punjab are generally less than one tonne/hectare (t/ha) because farmers tend to grow this crop
under any type of land/water-use conditions, without realising that high productivity can be possible only on
specific kinds of soils and by following specific crop-soil-input (seed, water, fertilizer, pesticide, energy)
management technologies. In addition, unorganised market and low/unstable prices relative to the
competing rice crop (having assured market with MSP) have been discouraging.
Problems
The potential productivity (about 2.8 t/ha in experimental plots, up to 2.5 t/ha in demonstration plots)
already obtained in Punjab and average yields in other countries (2.5 t/ha in the USA), suggest the possibility
of increasing its average productivity to more than 2 t/ha in the state. With a remunerative assured market,
this crop can be expected to remain fairly competitive.
Soybean does not grow well on soils testing very light (sand, loamy sand) or heavy (clayey) in texture, low in
organic matter and poor in fertility. The plants of this crop are very sensitive to water-logging/shallow water
table, deteriorated structure, hardpan, poor aeration, salinity/alkalinity and excessive amounts of concretions
in the root-zone soil. Flooding of the soil (even temporarily) can cause appreciable reduction in productivity.
The seed of this crop (sown in the first fortnight of June), being proteinacious and oily, many a times does
not germinate properly when the soil does not have optimum moisture, particularly in sandy or loamy sand
soils. Crust formation even with very light rain/irrigation also results in severe reduction in germination.
Adequate germination can be achieved by sowing seeds in well-pulverised and finely prepared soil having the
adequate soil-moisture conditions. Being leguminous, seed must be treated with Rhyzobium culture. The
harmful effects of high temperature on soil-moisture loss (during summer period), seed germination,
atmospheric nitrogen fixation in root nodules and growth of plants can be corrected by covering the soil
surface with straw or other mulches. The recommended varieties in Punjab are capable of giving productivity
of about 2 t/ha. But soybean breeders must develop varieties capable of producing much higher yields, even
under varying degrees of biotic (diseases, insects, weeds) and abiotic (soil, water, environment) stresses.
Sites/zones
Since high productivity can be obtained only when grown under specific soil and water management systems,
identification of sites/zones specifically suitable for this crop is of paramount importance. Suitability is
ensured when the soil tests loam to clay-loam, medium to high in organic matter and fertility, permeable,
well drained/deep water-table, non-saline/non-alkali (not even recently reclaimed salt-affected soils), well
structured and very low (or without) in concretions. Saline water is not suitable. The Punjab Remote Sensing
Centre, Ludhiana, state development/ extension agencies and soil-testing laboratories can greatly help in
identifying zones and making recommendations.
The focus should be on the development of state-of-the-art post-harvest handling (crop maturity standards,
drying, grading, packaging, transportation), processing (all parts of the plant), branding development and
well-organised market infrastructure (including market promotion and intelligence). A few innovative
quality/high-value soybean-products (fresh and processed) may be treated as extreme-focus items and
promoted for exports.
Processing
To improve profitability, Punjab should take pro-active steps to develop an aggressive soybean-processing
infrastructure. In India, since more than 85 per cent of the soybean produced is used for producing oil, 10
per cent as seed and 5 per cent as food, there is a huge market for the processed products. Soybean is the
most economical source of dietary protein (about Rs 30/kg of extracted soy-protein, compared with about Rs
100 for cereals or pulses, Rs 250 for milk and Rs 400 for meat or fish). Soy-based processed food includes
flour, dairy analogues (soymilk, soy-paneer, soy-yoghurt, soy-ice cream), fermented foods, baked products
and snack foods. These foods have good acceptability because of economic and nutritional advantages.
The soybean-based agro-industry must develop backward integration so that technology, raw material
availability, inputs, quality, etc., can be better managed. The outdated mini-oil extractors/expellers must be
replaced by modern oil extractors (solvent extraction) so as to reduce the residual oil content in the cakes (8-
12 per cent to less than 4 per cent), with lower energy consumption.
Marketing
There is a huge market for cost-effectively produced soybean and its processed products, particularly if they
are of globally acceptable quality. The domestic demand of this protein and oil-rich crop is progressively
increasing. Poultry-feed market is also rapidly growing. Soy-meal has great export potential (accounts for 90
per cent of all oil meals exported from India). At present, India exports more than 2.5 million tones of soy-
meal, valued at about Rs 2400.
The demand for certified non-genetically modified (non-GM) soy-meal is expanding (at 20-25 per cent) in the
European union to produce meat products without using GM-ingredients in the feeds. Since we do not grow
GM-soybean, the non-GM label can be exploited.

Widen market and they’ll be sweet

Better transportation and processing can go a long way
IN spite of many ups and downs, grape cultivation is considered a remunerative
crop. Of the major grape growing states, Maharashtra alone accounts for 66 per cent
area and about 74 per cent of production in the country while Punjab’s
corresponding shares are 3 per cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively.
In Punjab, Bathinda district is the leading grape-growing region. The state
government had imported 1lakh cuttings of early maturing variety "Perlette" from
California (US). This variety acclimatised well and proved good. The area under
cultivation increased from 1.6 ha (1962) to 485 ha within 4 years of the initiation of
the programme. During 2000-01, the total area under grape cultivation was 812 ha
in Bathinda and Perlette is the major variety. Recently, the cultivation, marketing and
post-harvest losses in grape production in Punjab were investigated by scientists of
the Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla.
Cultivation practices
Punjab lies in the subtropical region of India. Here vines undergo dormancy during
winter and the weather being hot in summer (April- June) berry development is
rapid. This takes 1600-1800 degree days (> 10`B0C) covering in about 70-75 days
as against the normal requirement of 120 days or more. This results in consistent
high yields, early maturity, firm flesh with TSS (total soluble sugars) > 18%,
seedlessness or low seed content, absence of browning of berries, high juice content
and tolerance for anthracnose.
In Punjab, two methods of cultivation are prevalent. One is traditional and the other
is the Israeli technique.
The Israeli technique involves pruning. This is done when vines undergo dormancy
during winter. All mature shoots are shortened and 3-4 buds are retained. After
pruning, grapevines should be sprayed with 0.2 % Blitox or Bordeaux mixture. After
this, application of 0.3% Dormex on dormant buds enhances ripening of grapes by
about two weeks. Heavy yield affects fruit quality adversely and delays ripening.
After pruning, 70-80 clusters per vine are retained. Thinning should be done after
fruit set. When the berry is about 4mm in size, it is treated with a 40 % solution of
gibberalic acid (GA). Girdling—removal of a complete ring of bark at berry size 4mm
diameter at the breast level of main trunk—helps in proper ripening of fruit. A
second GA treatment is done at 50% bloom with 30 % GA solution by spraying or by
dipping the bunches for 30 seconds.
Growers’ problems
Grape cultivation is highly labour and capital intensive. Major problems faced by the
growers are unsuitability of water for irrigation, untimely rain, high temperature,
scarcity of labour, etc. Since the water supplied through canals is saline, it causes
hardening of soil and deteriorates fruit quality and yield. Growers in Punjab also face
shortage of skilled labour for pre- and post-harvest operations.
Infrastructure
The Perlette variety has a niche market, as no other variety is available from mid-
April to mid-June. But growers and pre-harvest contractors have to face many
problems on the marketing front. Since the shelf life of Perlette variety is less, it
cannot be marketed in markets more than 10-13 hours away journey. Administrative
hindrances at check-posts at barriers also result in delay, causing quality losses.
Proper marketing facilities, cooling centres for storage, price information,
refrigerated vans, etc., are also not available.
Post-harvest losses
There is an imperative need to reduce the post-harvest losses. At present the
physical post-harvest losses are estimated to be 39 % of the production and 30 % of
the value. It can be done through popularising the Israeli technique, insurance
scheme to cope with untimely rains, and ensuring availability of skilled labour. Pre-
cooling is done to reduce the field heat and moisture loss. It checks stem
desiccation, browning, berry softening and shatter (Nelson, 1955). Thus, it helps in
increasing the shelf life. For this, cooling centres should be opened by the state
government.
Packing, transport
It is reported by commission and forwarding agents in Delhi that growers and pre-
harvest contractors in Punjab use inferior and second-hand cardboard boxes for
packing grapes. But, according to growers, the cost of packing material, especially
cardboard boxes, is very high and they do not get adequate returns. Hence, the
government should provide boxes at subsidised rates. The use of grape guard (SO2
releasing pads) is also recommended in packing of grapes.
The chief means of transportation is trucks. Since the shelf life is very less, grapes
cannot be transported to distant markets. Hence, there is a need to transport grapes
from Punjab through the railway service to increase the market size.
Marketing
The major marketing channel identified in Bathinda is grower-commission/forwarding
agent-retailer-consumer. Still, about 30 per cent of the total produce is given to pre-
harvest contractors, which is about 35 per cent of the total harvesting in Bathinda.
Growers often complain that pre-harvest contractors cheat them by giving them
lower prices.
To make grape farming more remunerative, marketing intelligence and information
system should be made efficient and APMCs strengthened. It is recommended that
co-operative grape marketing societies should be formed by growers so that the
price gap can be reduced by avoiding pre-harvest contractors and commission
agents.
Processing of grapes is not done in Punjab. The Perlette variety is suitable for
making white wine and vermouth. This variety is also suitable for canning. It is done
in combination with other fruits in salads and cocktails. The government should take
steps and open processing units in collaboration with the private sector.