Significant Decline in Groundnut, Soybean, and Sesame Cultivation Area

14-Jul-2026 01:06 PM

New Delhi: Compared to the previous year, the total cultivation area for oilseed crops during the current Kharif season has dropped by 21%—or 31.34 lakh hectares—falling from 149.18 lakh hectares to 117.83 lakh hectares; this figure remains well below the five-year average area.

During the period under review, the cultivation area for groundnut slumped from 35.45 lakh hectares to 23.40 lakh hectares, the soybean sowing area declined from 107.72 lakh hectares to 90.51 lakh hectares, and the sesame acreage fell from 5.17 lakh hectares to 2.79 lakh hectares; conversely, the sunflower area increased from 53,000 hectares to 86,000 hectares. Cultivation of other oilseed crops, including Niger seed and castor, has so far been limited to a small area.

The five-year average area set for the Kharif season is 46.79 lakh hectares for groundnut, 128.71 lakh hectares for soybean, 12.88 lakh hectares for sesame, 9.49 lakh hectares for castor, 1.20 lakh hectares for sunflower, and 1.01 lakh hectares for Niger seed.

Groundnut acreage has increased in Rajasthan but lags behind in other states, including Gujarat. As for soybean, government figures regarding the sowing area are significantly lower than those reported by SOPA (Soybean Processors Association of India). The sowing status of oilseed crops in Gujarat is unsatisfactory, despite it being the leading producer state for groundnut and castor.