Oilseed Acreage Shrinks Due to Reduced Groundnut and Soybean Sowing

21-Jul-2026 01:10 PM

New Delhi: Sowing of the two major Kharif oilseed crops—soybean and groundnut—has covered a smaller area this season, causing the total cultivation area for Kharif oilseeds to stall at 147.09 lakh hectares as of July 17; this is 8.63 lakh hectares less than the 155.72 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year. While soybean and groundnut sowing has reached its final stage, sowing for castor, sesame, and sunflower is still underway.

According to official data, compared to last year, the national cultivation area for soybean has dropped from 111.05 lakh hectares to 106.02 lakh hectares, groundnut sowing area has decreased from 37.69 lakh hectares to 34.52 lakh hectares, and sesame acreage has fallen from 5.95 lakh hectares to 5.12 lakh hectares; conversely, sunflower acreage has risen from 53,000 hectares to 88,000 hectares. The progress of the monsoon, bringing good rainfall to various parts of the country, is expected to help accelerate the pace of oilseed sowing.

Due to insufficient monsoon rainfall in top oilseed-producing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, sowing was not only delayed this season but also proceeded at a sluggish pace. Groundnut acreage in Gujarat and soybean acreage in Rajasthan have declined. The cultivation area for all oilseed crops is currently trailing behind the five-year average.

A reduction in oilseed acreage could lead to lower production, potentially increasing edible oil imports. Weather conditions during August and September will also significantly impact the oilseed crops. Harvesting of early-sown soybean crops is set to begin in the third or fourth week of September.