- In India, the area under soybean cultivation increased by more than 10% in the 2024/2025 season.
- The area under peanuts has increased by 5% thanks to favourable prices and government support.
- India wants to reduce vegetable oil imports by developing local crops.
- Increasing oilseed production improves the situation of farmers and market stability.
Growing interest in soybean and groundnut crops in India
Oilseed planting acreage is increasing in India in response to growing domestic demand and high market prices. According to the Indian Department of Agriculture, the area planted to soybeans for the 2024/2025 season has already increased by more than 10 per cent compared to the same period last year. By 28 June this year, 2.6 million hectares of soybeans had been sown, showing a clear recovery in this segment.
At the same time, farmers increased peanut acreage by 5 per cent to reach 1.2 million hectares. This is a result not only of favourable prices, but also of the Indian government’s efforts to promote local sources of vegetable oil to reduce imports.
India wants to reduce vegetable oil imports
India is among the world’s largest importers of palm oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil. However, the country is trying to reduce its dependence on foreign supplies, which is evident, among other things, by stimulating domestic production of oilseeds. Increasing crop acreage is a step towards an improved trade balance and greater self-sufficiency in food production.
Experts emphasise that developing local oilseed crops not only reduces the need for imports, but also improves the economic situation of farmers and increases the availability of raw materials for the food industry. Given the global volatility of vegetable oil prices, this trend could also be important for European importers and processors.
