MUMBAI, SEPT 12: The Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) of theUS Department of Agriculture in its fresh estimates of the worldagriculture production has revised global wheat production upwards. India’s soybean area has been revised upward as the largest producing state,Madhya Pradesh, has reported maximum sowing till date.

Soybean production is forecast at 7.0 million tonne, up 1.3 million fromlast month, and up 0.2 million from last year. The current 2004-05 soybeanarea forecast is 7.7 million hectares, up 1.3 million from last month, andup 1.2 million from last year. The upward revision in production thismonth is a result of new information on area.

The agriculture ministry reports a significant expansion in plantings ofsoybeans compared to last year, but abandonment will be larger than usualowing to drought in July. The revival of the monsoon in early August andfavourable prices are the dominant factors contributing to the increasedplantings. Maharashtra, the second largest soybean producing state, isreported to have sown its largest soybean area to date.