Indian farmers shifting to maize cultivation as soybean cotton acreage shrinks

Indian farmers shifting to maize cultivation as soybean cotton acreage shrinks

Farmers across the country have shifted significantly towards maize cultivation while areas dedicated to soybean and cotton farming are declining amid lower-than-expected realizations in the markets.

As the country enters the last leg of kharif sowing, India has reported 708.31 lakh hectares of sowing as of July 21, as compared to 680.38 lakh hectares of last year, of which maize recorded the highest jump — from last year’s 61.73 lakh hectares to 71.21 lakh hectares this year.

However, oilseeds reported a 6 per cent dip, which is 156.76 lakh hectares as against last year’s 162.80 lakh hectares. Soybean, the main kharif oilseed, was sown over 111.67 lakh hectares this year compared to last year’s 118.96 lakh hectares. Cotton, the major lint crop, has also seen a decrease in the acreage from 102.05 of 202-25 to the present 98.55 lakh hectares of this year.

The Solvent and Extractors Association (SEA) – the apex body of edible oil solvent and extractors companies – has expressed concerns about the potential dip in soybean, India’s main summer-sown oilseed crop, acreage nationally.

] ‘Soybean acreage has dipped by over 6 per cent compared to the previous year, possibly due to shifting crop preferences and regional weather variability. This trend merits close observation, as soybean remains a crucial pillar in India’s oilseed economy and a major source of oil and meal,’ Sanjeeve Asthana, President, SEA, said.

Vilas Uphade, a farmer from Latur district of Maharashtra, noted that soybean is currently trading at Rs 4,000 per quintal in the wholesale market.

‘This is against the government-declared Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 5,328, which is even before the new crop has entered the market. We are expecting a bumper harvest this year, so I worry about what the price conditions will be post the harvest,’ he said. With the kharif sowing entering its last phase, prices might see further slide.

The demand for maize has increased due to its use as a feedstock for ethanol production.