An industry association said that soybean production is witnessing a drop in the country by around 20.5 lakh tonnes this year to 105.36 lakh tonnes.
Notably, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) mentioned the reasons behind this drop are a decrease in Soybean acreage and productivity, as well as the influence of affected weather conditions on the crop,as the body released its annual report at the International Soy conclave 2025 in Indore, where hundreds of representatives from the oilseeds industry were present.
Soybean Production in India during the Current Kharif Season
The report by the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) noted that soybean was sown on 114.56 lakh hectares during the current kharif season, and soybean production was 105.36 Lakh tonnes, along with the average productivity of 920 kg per hectare. However, in 2024, Soybeans sown on 118.32 lakh hectares in the country, and the Soybean production was 125.82 lakh tonnes, with average productivity of 1,063 kg per hectare. Furthermore, Davish Jain, Chairman of SOPA, said: “This year, the soybean crop suffered significant damage due to the weather. Heavy monsoon rains, especially in Rajasthan, reduced soybean production by half” whereas the D N Pathak, Executive Director of Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) noted that the outbreak of yellow low mosaic virus damaged the soybean crop in several places.
Price difference payment scheme for oilseed commodity
Heavy rains destroyed crops in various districts of Madhya Pradesh. Notably, the state is a major producer. After this, the state government introduced a price difference payment scheme for this oilseed commodity. As per this scheme. if traders purchase soybeans from farmers in mandis at prices lower than the centrally declared Minimum Support Price (MSP), the government will pay the difference to farmers. SOPA has stated that India imports more than 60 per cent of its total edible oil needs, which costs approximately ₹1.7 lakh crore in foreign exchange every year.