Vol. 7, Issue 9, Part C (2025)

Soybean (Glycine max L.), popularly known as the "golden bean," is a vital oilseed crop that significantly contributes to India's agricultural economy. This study was conducted to analyze the seasonality and market integration of soybean prices in major market of India, including Latur (Maharashtra), Dewas (Madhya Pradesh), Kota (Rajasthan), Bidar (Karnataka), and Junagadh (Gujarat), using data from January 2015 to December 2024. Secondary data on monthly prices and arrivals were collected from APMCs and the AGMARKNET portal. Seasonal indices were calculated using the twelve-month ratio-to-moving-average method to examine price and arrival patterns, while the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) tests were applied to check stationarity. Johansen’s cointegration test and the Granger causality test were used to assess long-run price relationships and causal linkages among markets. The results revealed that soybean arrivals peaked during October-December, while prices were highest in March-May, demonstrating an inverse relationship between supply and price. Stationarity tests indicated that all price series were non-stationary at levels but stationary at first differences I (1). Johansen’s cointegration confirmed strong long-run price integration among markets, particularly Dewas-Bidar, Bidar-Junagadh, and Latur-Bidar, while Granger causality analysis identified both bidirectional and unidirectional price transmissions, with Latur, Kota, and Bidar emerging as price-leading markets. The study highlights the need for understanding seasonality and market linkages to improve marketing strategies, ensure better price realization for farmers, and support policy interventions for market stability.