India soybean area up 6% on year at 11 mln ha. Farmers in the country had sown soybean across 11.19 mln ha, up 6.3% from a year ago. Higher sowing in the key growing areas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan due to adequate rain boosted the acreage under the oilseed. Soybean acreage in Madhya Pradesh rose 6.1% on year to 5.32 mln ha. A rise in the minimum support price has also pushed up the total soybean acreage. The government has fixed a minimum support price of 3,399 rupees per 100 kg for the oilseed for 2018-19, higher than the previous years 3,050 rupees. Early sown crop is at pod formation to grain filling stage and faces threats from semi-looper, girdle beetle, pod borer and tobacco caterpillar in some pockets in Madhya Pradesh. The humid weather at present is turning conducive for breeding of pests on the crop. Farmers have been advised to survey the crop regularly and use pesticides if attacks are above the threshold level.