Uncertainty Surrounds Potential Increase in Kharif Oilseed Production

Mumbai. Although the total area sown under Kharif oilseed crops at the national level has increased by 0.111 million hectares—rising from 19.555 million hectares to 19.666 million hectares—there is doubt regarding any growth in total oilseed production, given the crop damage caused by El Niño and a weak monsoon. Within the Kharif crop category, the area under sesame and sunflower has increased, while the area under groundnut has remained largely stable. Conversely, there has been a slight decline in the area sown for soybean and castor. Interestingly, a leading industry body, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), has projected an increase of 0.5 million hectares in the area under soybean cultivation.

Data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture indicates that by October 2, during the 2026 Kharif season, the total area under soybean cultivation reached 12.316 million hectares—a slight decrease compared to the previous year. The area sown for groundnut was recorded at approximately 5.1 million hectares, remaining nearly on par with the previous year. Meanwhile, the area under sesame rose to 1.123 million hectares, and the area under sunflower increased to 0.129 million hectares, whereas the area under castor declined to 0.897 million hectares. The harvesting of oilseed crops has already commenced.

In Gujarat, the total area under Kharif oilseed crops has decreased from 31.95 lakh hectares last year to 30.28 lakh hectares this season. Specifically, the area sown for groundnut—a crop for which Gujarat is the leading producer—has fallen to 20.70 lakh hectares. Meanwhile, SOPA has projected that domestic soybean production will decline by 2.11 percent—from 110.29 lakh tonnes in the 2025-26 season to 107.90 lakh tonnes in the 2026-27 season.