Monsoon Rains Have a Two-Sided Impact on Oilseed Crops
22-Sep-2025 04:38 PM
Mumbai. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its recent report, forecast above-normal rainfall across central and southern states over the next two weeks, with the possibility of very heavy showers in some regions. This is expected to have a twofold impact on kharif oilseed crops. On the one hand, such rains could prove beneficial for crops like soybean, groundnut, sunflower, and castor; on the other, excess or surplus rainfall in some areas could create challenges. Waterlogging in fields may affect the quality, yield, and overall production of oilseed crops, while also delaying harvests—adding further strain. The edible oil industry will need to closely monitor the overall situation and adjust strategies accordingly.
This year, the total sown area under oilseed crops has declined due to reduced acreage of soybean and sesame, although groundnut and castor acreage has expanded in Gujarat thanks to favorable conditions. Sunflower continues to have a relatively negligible share compared to other oilseeds, while nigerseed is in a similar position.
September rains are likely to benefit the upcoming rabi oilseed crops, particularly mustard, by supporting early sowing and healthy crop progress. With mustard’s wholesale mandi price running well above the Minimum Support Price (MSP), farmers are receiving attractive returns. This has boosted their confidence, and consequently, mustard acreage is expected to expand during the forthcoming rabi season.