Farmers are confused about soybean cultivation due to weak market price

27-May-2025 03:58 PM

Indore. The central government procured soybean at the minimum support price (MSP) during the 2024–25 Kharif marketing season, but this move provided relief to only a limited number of farmers.

A large portion of producers were still compelled to sell their soybean at throw-away prices, leading to growing anxiety, disappointment, and confusion among them.

Soybean farmers in Madhya Pradesh, in particular, continue to face numerous challenges, including unpredictable weather and monsoon patterns, rising input costs, falling incomes, and fluctuating market conditions.

Soybean was once the primary source of livelihood for many farmers in the leading production states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh alone accounted for 54 percent of the country’s total soybean output, while Maharashtra contributed 30 percent. However, Maharashtra’s share has been rising steadily in recent years.

Increasing costs of fertilizers, seeds, and labor have made soybean cultivation more difficult, and falling market prices have made it harder for farmers to even recover their input costs. As a result, farmer interest and enthusiasm for soybean cultivation are expected to decline this season.

Farmer organizations warn that if producers do not receive profitable prices, their willingness to grow soybean will decrease significantly. In the 2024–25 season, the wholesale market price of soybean was Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per quintal lower than the MSP. While government procurement offers some support, most farmers prefer better market prices that ensure consistent income.

For this to happen, soybean oil prices must remain strong. One proposed solution is to curb the import of cheap soybean oil, which would help stabilize and raise domestic market prices for soybean, benefiting producers directly.