Soybean sowing is low but the yield is likely to be normal

03-Jul-2025 08:21 PM

Mumbai. With the wholesale market price being 10–15 percent lower than the minimum support price (MSP), the enthusiasm and attraction of farmers towards soybean cultivation is likely to decline this season.

As a result, the total area under soybean cultivation at the national level is expected to fall by about 5 percent compared to last year.

However, if weather and monsoon conditions remain favorable, the average yield of the crop may improve, keeping overall production close to last year’s levels. On the other hand, if the weather turns unfavorable or pest and disease pressure increases, soybean yield could be adversely affected.

According to industry analysts, although there hasn’t been a major shift in the sowing area so far, farmers in several key producing states appear to be shifting focus to crops like maize, pigeon pea (tur), groundnut, and cotton in place of soybean.

Maize, in particular, is drawing more interest from farmers this year due to its strong demand and a hike in MSP by ₹175 — from ₹2,225 per quintal to ₹2,400 per quintal. Similarly, the MSP for tur has been set at ₹8,000 per quintal, and for long-staple cotton at ₹8,110 per quintal.

According to the Indore-based Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), soybean was cultivated on 117.48 lakh hectares during the Kharif season of 2024.

This year, the area may decline by up to 5 percent. However, the Ministry of Agriculture’s sowing figures last year were higher than SOPA’s estimate.

As per the latest data from SOPA, by June 30, 2025, soybean had been sown on 43 lakh hectares across the country.