Soybean production in the country is expected to witness a sharp decline of about 16 percent this year. According to the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), production during the ongoing Kharif season 2025–26 is estimated to fall by 2.05 million tonnes to 10.536 million tonnes.
Despite the fall in production, soybean prices remain much below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹5,328 per quintal. Farmers are being forced to sell their produce at ₹3,500–4,000 per quintal.
SOPA has attributed the production decline to reduced acreage, lower productivity, and adverse weather conditions. As per SOPA data, soybean was sown on 11.456 million hectares this Kharif season (2025), with an average yield of 920 kg per hectare. In contrast, last year (2024), the crop was sown on 11.832 million hectares, producing 12.582 million tonnes with an average yield of 1,063 kg per hectare.
This year, unfavourable weather has caused extensive damage to the crop. Heavy rainfall in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh has affected production, while the yellow mosaic virus has further damaged crops in several regions.
The central government has fixed the MSP for soybean at ₹5,328 per quintal for the 2025–26 Kharif marketing season — an increase of ₹436 over last year. However, farmers are unable to benefit from the higher MSP as market prices remain well below it.
In Madhya Pradesh, the country’s leading soybean-producing state, heavy rains have destroyed crops in many districts. On top of that, farmers are struggling to get fair prices. The state government has launched the Bhavantar Payment Scheme, but farmer organizations argue that it will not fully compensate their losses.
Farmer leader Ram Inania said, “The government is only compensating the difference between the model market price and the MSP, which does not provide real relief to farmers.” Farmer groups across several districts are protesting to demand procurement at MSP.
Even though India’s domestic edible oil production remains much lower than demand, farmers growing oilseed crops like soybean are still deprived of fair returns. Experts believe the influx of cheap imported edible oils is the main reason behind this price pressure.
Farmers did not get remunerative prices for soybean last year either, leading many to shift towards maize cultivation. The decline in soybean acreage this year reflects this growing disinterest among farmers.
India currently imports over 60 percent of its edible oil requirements, spending nearly ₹1.70 lakh crore annually in foreign exchange. To achieve self-reliance in edible oils, it is essential to boost domestic soybean production — and that will only be possible when farmers receive fair and remunerative prices for their produce.