The seminar is jointly convened by the Technology Mission on Oil Promotion (TMOP) to prepare an action plan after thorough discussions of the effect of soyabean based cropping system on quality and conservation of the natural resources.

The basic objective of the seminar is to assess the overall soyabean economy in the country, production, productivity and marketing aspects.

The timing of the seminar assumes importance, more so in the light of the fact that the global soyabean crop has been almost 25-30 per cent higher this year than in the previous year. This situation has led to slump in soyabean, soyameal and soyaoil in the international markets.

Faced with excessive soyabean crop, a section of the powerful US soya producers' lobby has been after the Indian soyaproducers associationto impress upon the government to allow import of oilseeds, including soyabean. The government has not relented its stand despite various efforts, even when it is reported to have "in principle" agreed to import around one million tonne of soyabean in February this year.

Further, the domestic oilseed processing industry, reeling under excess installed capacity, too has been wanting the government to permit oilseeds import, which the industry bigwigs claim, would help partly meet the looming edible oil shortage in the country.

The productivity of soyabean has been targeted to be around 1,500 kg per hectare by the 9th Five Year Plan. This strategy was formulated at the All India Conference on Soyabean Development on May 24-25 1996 held at Indore. Now a detailed review is essential to further identify the technological, socioeconomic and various policy related constraints hampering productivity of soyabean and soya based cropping system for doubling the production of soyabean during the next 10 years.

Attoday's seminar, a common strategy is expected to be worked out for effective methods of transfering technology for increasing production and productivity of soyabean and measures to combat soyabean rust which has assumed serious proportion during the recent years.