USDA Post has cut the forecast for Indian soyabean output by 8 per cent to 9.6 million tonnes for the 2026-27 season from its earlier estimate of 10.4 million tonnes, citing erratic monsoon rainfall and reduced area impacting the output. This comes amid a section of farmers shifting to other crops such as cotton and corn. Post has also revised India’s soybean imports to five lakh tonnes, supported by favourable harvests among the African suppliers.
FAS New Delhi has now estimated the soyabean cropped area at 10.5 million hectares, down 6 per cent from the earlier forecast of 11.2 million hectares. “Irregular rainfall during the planting window disrupted sowing operations and required replanting in parts of Maharashtra, a leading soybean-producing state. Compounding this, farmers increasingly diverted acreage to cotton, drawn by stronger market prices, and to corn, motivated by improved income prospects,” it said in a latest report.
The initial reduction in kharif 2026 soybean plantings stemmed largely from a delayed, El Nino-influenced monsoon onset. However, subsequent rainfall in July supported a partial recovery in planted area across Maharashtra. Amid this uncertainty, some growers considered shifting to cotton, corn, or higher-value vegetable crops, while others experienced setbacks in land preparation due to unpredictable early-season weather. In contrast, Madhya Pradesh benefited from favourable rainfall throughout the season.
