The area under soyabean cultivation in Maharashtra is expected to decline by two lakh hectares this year, driven by disappointing returns last season and a range of external and policy-related challenges, agriculture department officials said on Sunday.
“Last year, soyabean cultivation was on 52 lakh hectares in the state. This time we estimate this to come down to 50 lakh hectares, a drop of two lakh hectares,” an official from the state agriculture department stated as quoted by PTI.
Soyabean has traditionally been viewed as a dependable cash crop. However, farmers are now expressing concerns over multiple discouraging factors, including losses due to erratic rainfall, delays in procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), and a lack of timely government intervention.
"Soyabean attracted a rate of Rs 3,900 to Rs 4,400 per quintal when the Union government announced MSP of Rs 4,892 per quintal. Everybody knows the government cannot buy the entire soyabean crop, and traders misuse this situation. The rates mentioned above are the actual earnings. Discouraged by last year's trends, the soyabean cultivation has taken a hit," said Shrinivas Kadlag, a farmer from Ahilyanagar.
He also pointed out that poultry farmers, as a collective, exert pressure to keep soyabean prices suppressed. In 2021–22, when soyabean prices surged due to higher demand, the All India Poultry Association had sought permission to import soyabean-based fodder, a move that led to a sharp drop in prices.
"What sugarcane is to western Maharashtra, soyabean is to farmers in Marathwada. However, the Union government's changing decisions on import of soyabean and allied products bring about fluctuations in the domestic prices. Farmers suffer because of this," said Manik Kadam, a leader of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana.
Kadam further explained that although soyabean cultivation increased during the 2024 Kharif season, low market prices and the lack of procurement or support from the Centre may have compelled farmers to consider switching to other crops.
As per data from the state agriculture department, Maharashtra has planned overall crop sowing across 144.97 lakh hectares, covering cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton. A total of 19.14 lakh quintals of seeds are required, while 25.08 lakh quintals are currently in stock.
Specifically for soyabean, 13.25 lakh quintals of seeds are needed, and 17.15 lakh quintals are available. Despite the expected drop in cultivation, officials have assured that seeds and fertilisers are in ample supply.
The state has secured approval for a total fertiliser quota of 46.82 lakh metric tonnes. Of this, 25.57 lakh tonnes are currently available, compared to 44.30 lakh tonnes used during the previous Kharif season.
“There are ample seed reserves for key crops including soyabean, rice, tur, moong and urad. Seed samples will be inspected to maintain quality standards,” said Sunil Borkar, Director of Quality Control.
For cotton, the cultivation target remains at 41 lakh hectares—unchanged from last year—with 1.22 lakh quintals of seeds available against a requirement of 82,000 quintals. Rice cultivation is projected to cover 15.25 lakh hectares, with 2.92 lakh quintals of seed in stock, well above the 2.19 lakh quintals required.
The government has set an overall food grain and oilseed production target of 204.21 lakh tonnes for the current season and is taking measures to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality agricultural inputs.
“Last year, soyabean cultivation was on 52 lakh hectares in the state. This time we estimate this to come down to 50 lakh hectares, a drop of two lakh hectares,” an official from the state agriculture department stated as quoted by PTI.
Soyabean has traditionally been viewed as a dependable cash crop. However, farmers are now expressing concerns over multiple discouraging factors, including losses due to erratic rainfall, delays in procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), and a lack of timely government intervention.
"Soyabean attracted a rate of Rs 3,900 to Rs 4,400 per quintal when the Union government announced MSP of Rs 4,892 per quintal. Everybody knows the government cannot buy the entire soyabean crop, and traders misuse this situation. The rates mentioned above are the actual earnings. Discouraged by last year's trends, the soyabean cultivation has taken a hit," said Shrinivas Kadlag, a farmer from Ahilyanagar.
He also pointed out that poultry farmers, as a collective, exert pressure to keep soyabean prices suppressed. In 2021–22, when soyabean prices surged due to higher demand, the All India Poultry Association had sought permission to import soyabean-based fodder, a move that led to a sharp drop in prices.
"What sugarcane is to western Maharashtra, soyabean is to farmers in Marathwada. However, the Union government's changing decisions on import of soyabean and allied products bring about fluctuations in the domestic prices. Farmers suffer because of this," said Manik Kadam, a leader of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana.
Kadam further explained that although soyabean cultivation increased during the 2024 Kharif season, low market prices and the lack of procurement or support from the Centre may have compelled farmers to consider switching to other crops.
As per data from the state agriculture department, Maharashtra has planned overall crop sowing across 144.97 lakh hectares, covering cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton. A total of 19.14 lakh quintals of seeds are required, while 25.08 lakh quintals are currently in stock.
Specifically for soyabean, 13.25 lakh quintals of seeds are needed, and 17.15 lakh quintals are available. Despite the expected drop in cultivation, officials have assured that seeds and fertilisers are in ample supply.
The state has secured approval for a total fertiliser quota of 46.82 lakh metric tonnes. Of this, 25.57 lakh tonnes are currently available, compared to 44.30 lakh tonnes used during the previous Kharif season.
“There are ample seed reserves for key crops including soyabean, rice, tur, moong and urad. Seed samples will be inspected to maintain quality standards,” said Sunil Borkar, Director of Quality Control.
For cotton, the cultivation target remains at 41 lakh hectares—unchanged from last year—with 1.22 lakh quintals of seeds available against a requirement of 82,000 quintals. Rice cultivation is projected to cover 15.25 lakh hectares, with 2.92 lakh quintals of seed in stock, well above the 2.19 lakh quintals required.
The government has set an overall food grain and oilseed production target of 204.21 lakh tonnes for the current season and is taking measures to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality agricultural inputs.
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