Dip in Oilseed Sowing Raises Concern

29-Jul-2025 06:09 PM

New Delhi. As expected, this time the area under peanuts is ahead of last year, while the area under soybean has lagged far behind. The difference in the area under peanuts has also reduced considerably.

In fact, the domestic market price of these two major oilseeds of the Kharif season fell significantly below the minimum support price in the marketing season of 2024-25 and despite record government purchases, it could not reach the support price.

Although the enthusiasm and attraction of farmers towards peanut cultivation remains intact in top producing states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, its interest is being seen less in other states.

As far as soybean is concerned, its area has lagged far behind last year in the second and third largest producing states - Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Data from the Union Agriculture Ministry shows that the total production area of Kharif oilseed crops could reach only 166.90 lakh hectares till July 25 this year, which is 3.85 lakh hectares less than the sown area of 170.75 lakh hectares during the same period last year.

During this period, although the area of groundnut increased by 40 thousand hectares to 41.17 lakh hectares and the area of sesame improved by 30 thousand hectares to reach 7.45 lakh hectares, but the production area of soybean fell from 121.40 lakh hectares to 116.70 lakh hectares.

Indore-based organization - Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) had expressed apprehension of a 5-7 percent decline in the total production area of soybean.

The sowing area of sunflower is almost the same as last year. There is a possibility of partial damage to soybean and groundnut crops due to rain in Rajasthan and water accumulation in the fields.

It is necessary to increase the domestic production of oilseeds otherwise there may be great difficulty in reducing dependence on import of edible oils from abroad.