Strategic IT Planning for India's Soybean Sector

摘要

Soybean (Glycine max (L) Merrill), known for long time as one of the principal food crop (Brooks, 1966) has recently occupied important place in agricultural and edible oil economy of India. With a contribution of about 8 per cent to the national edible oil supply, adoption of soybeans in farming systems in the country has resulted marked improvement in rural economy and socio-economic conditions of farmers (Bhatnagar and Joshi, 1999). Export earnings from soybeans to the extent of 10 per cent of the exports in agriculture sector and 70 per cent of the oilseeds sector, are important for country's economy. In addition, soybeans offer good prospects for alleviation of wide spread protein malnutrition and reduction of incidence of chronic diseases like cardio-vascular, cancers, osteoporosis etc (Manchanda, 2002, Messina and Barnes, 1991). Notwithstanding, growth rates of soybean cultivation (13% -14% annually) and that of the processing capacity (22%) in India are unprecedented, the potential for productivity and production is yet to be harnessed. Competitiveness, profitability and sustainability of the Indian soybean sector is to be improved in the context of the global economy.