Regenerative Mustard Farming Model Boosts Yields by Up to 30%, Offers Path to Cut India's Edible Oil Imports

A regenerative agriculture initiative led by The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) has demonstrated that sustainable farming practices can significantly improve mustard productivity and farm profitability, offering a pathway to reducing India's heavy dependence on imported edible oils.

The Regenerative Mustard Model Farm Programme, implemented during the Rabi 2025-26 season in partnership with Solidaridad Network Asia Ltd., established 3,000 Front Line Demonstration (FLD) plots covering 3,000 acres across the major mustard-growing states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

Supported by industry stakeholders AWL Agribusiness Ltd., Bunge India Pvt. Ltd., Louis Dreyfus India Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet Ltd., V.V.F. India Pvt. Ltd., J.R. Agro Industries Ltd. and Arihant Solvex Pvt. Ltd., the programme showcased how regenerative agriculture can enhance crop yields, improve farmer incomes and strengthen long-term farm resilience.

Rajasthan and Haryana record 30% yield increase

According to SEA, Rajasthan emerged as the standout performer, with model farms achieving a 30 per cent increase in yield, from 1,853 kg per hectare to 2,409 kg per hectare. The economic gains were equally impressive, with the Benefit-Cost (B:C) ratio improving from 2.6 to 4.0, highlighting the strong profitability potential of regenerative practices.

Haryana delivered similar results, with mustard yields increasing by 30 per cent, from 1,900 kg per hectare to 2,470 kg per hectare. The B:C ratio rose from 3.5 to 4.8, indicating significantly higher profitability for farmers adopting regenerative farming methods.

In Madhya Pradesh, the model farms recorded a 20.5 per cent increase in productivity, with yields rising from 1,900 kg per hectare to 2,295 kg per hectare. Farmers also benefited from higher gross returns and lower cultivation costs, improving the B:C ratio from 2.5 to 3.1.

Commenting on the results, Sanjeev Asthana, President of SEA, said the programme has achieved the objectives envisioned when it was launched in 2019.

"It is encouraging to see these results, as this is exactly what we set out to achieve when we started the Mustard Model Farm Programme in 2019. It is time to expand such successful initiatives to more regions and oilseed crops so that India can accelerate domestic production and realistically reduce its dependence on edible oil imports," he said.

SEA Seeks Govt. Collaboration 

SEA Executive Director Dr B.V. Mehta said the association has requested the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to collaborate with SEA in implementing ongoing and future Front Line Demonstration programmes to expand the reach and impact of regenerative farming.

"As India intensifies efforts to increase domestic oilseed production and reduce edible oil imports, the success of this programme provides a scalable model for strengthening the mustard value chain while delivering tangible economic benefits to farmers," he said.

India remains heavily dependent on imports to meet its edible oil demand. According to industry estimates, the country is expected to import around 16.7-17.1 million tonnes of edible oils during the 2025-26 oil year (November 2025-October 2026), driven largely by higher purchases of palm oil. Imports continue to meet around 56-60 per cent of India's domestic edible oil consumption, underscoring the need to boost domestic oilseed productivity.

The results of the mustard demonstration programme suggest that wider adoption of regenerative agricultural practices could play an important role in improving India's self-reliance in edible oil production while enhancing farmers' profitability.