Soyabean acreages are up by about 2 per cent in kharif 2025 at 119.69 lakh hectares, according to the trade body – Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA). This increase is mainly witnessed in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, offsetting a marginal decline in Madhya Pradesh, where a section of farmers have switched over to maize.
SOPA has estimated the soyabean acreage in the largest producing State of Madhya Pradesh at 51.9 lakh ha, marginally lower than previous year’s 52 lakh ha. As per the government estimates, soyabean area in MP stood at 51.04 lakh ha as on July 25.
In Maharashtra, SOPA estimates soyabean area this year at 48.2 lakh ha (45 lakh ha during kharif 2024), while the area according to the government is 48.24 lakh ha.
In Rajasthan, soyabean area has reduced to 10.8 lakh ha (11.12 lakh ha), as per SOPA, while the government estimates area at 9.7 lakh ha.
Interestingly, in Karnataka, the soyabean area has increased 13 per cent to 4.22 lakh ha over previous year’s 3.73 lakh ha, SOPA said.
“The overall condition of the soybean crop is normal across the major soybean-growing states. In Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, the crop health is reported to be good, with healthy plant growth observed,” said D N Pathak, Executive Director, SOPA in a statement.
“In the districts of Ashoknagar, Guna, Shivpuri, Betul, Harda, Khandwa and Khargone in MP, a portion of the soybean area has been converted to maize cultivation. Similarly, in Nasik and Satara districts of Maharashtra, a portion of the soybean area has been converted to maize, red gram and cotton cultivation,” Pathak said.
However, in the districts of Rajgarh, Bhopal, Raisen and Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, and Hingoli, Nanded and Jalgaon in Maharashtra, the soybean crop area has increased compared to last year, Pathak added.
In Telangana, the soyabean area has declined marginally to 1.46 lakh ha (1.54 lakh ha), while in Gujarat also it has decreased to 2.56 lakh ha from the previous year’s 3.01 lakh ha.
Published on August 1, 2025