Question : PRICE OF SOYABEAN

(a) whether soyabean is being procured at different places on lower price in comparison to the fixed rate is leading to huge losses to the farmers;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government to protect the interests of the farmers;

(c) whether the rate of soyabean oil has been increased recently; and

(d) if so, the reasons for the slump in the price rate of soyabean seeds?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI V. SREENIVASA PRASAD)

(a) & (b) : Soyabean of fair average quality (FAQ) is being procured by NAFED from M.P., Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The Minimum Support Price for soyabean, it may be mentioned, has been raised from Rs. 795 per quintal in 1998 to Rs. 845 per quintal in 1999.

One of the problems being faced by the farmers is the availability of soyabean of lower standard than FAQ. As per FAQ standard moisture is permitted upto 12% and discoloured Soyabean upto 3%. Due to heave rains at the time of harvesting, the harvested soyabean had moisture content of 15% and discoloured soyabean upto 20%. There was a demand from farmers of Madhya Pradesh in October 1999 to dilute FAQ standard so that they could get the same price for this quality of soyabean as of FAQ variety.

(c) The wholesale prices of soyabean oil in the last six months have been as under :

Price Rs/Quintal
Month	Refined Soyabean Oil
November` 99	2360
December` 99	2406
January` 2000	2387
February` 2000	2255
March` 2000	2330
April` 2000	2420