Soybean planting in Madhya Pradesh has gained momentum despite a delayed monsoon start, with the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) estimating 28.9 lakh hectares of soybean acreage as of June 30. This figure significantly exceeds the Agriculture Ministry's estimate of 6.9 lakh hectares, according to SOPA's rapid survey of kharif 2026 sowing. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, SOPA attributed the substantial gap to delays in official reporting, noting a 7-10 day lag in government data collection.
According to SOPA's estimates, soybean sowing in Madhya Pradesh had covered approximately 15.56 lakh hectares by the end of June, compared with the government's estimate of 4.3 lakh hectares. In Maharashtra, the industry body pegged soybean acreage at 8.45 lakh hectares against the government's estimate of 1.19 lakh hectares. In Rajasthan, sowing has covered about 35-40% of the targeted area, with acreage estimated at 3.5 lakh hectares versus the government's 0.63 lakh hectares. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, DN Pathak, Executive Director of SOPA, expects the entire state to be covered by July 15.
According to SOPA's assessment, many farmers who shifted to maize last year have returned to soybean cultivation due to favorable prices. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Pathak noted that the sowing progress in Maharashtra is slow due to inadequate soil moisture, but expects it to catch up over the next two weeks. The association expects soybean acreage this year to exceed last year's level, with overall production depending on rainfall distribution over the next three months.
