SOPA urges government to halt premature sale of soybean stocks

Indore(Team Newsbuddy) : In a move to safeguard soybean farmers from heavy financial losses, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has written a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging the government to defer the sale of soybean stocks held by NAFED.
SOPA chairman Dr. Davish Jain, in his letter, has cautioned that if NAFED starts selling soybeans in the open market from March 3, it will further depress prices already significantly lower than the Minimum Support Price (MSP), potentially discouraging farmers from cultivating soybeans in the next season.
According to SOPA, the current mandi prices of soybeans range between ₹3,900 and ₹4,100 per quintal, whereas the government’s MSP is set at₹4,892 per quintal. The drastic price drop has led to huge financial losses for farmers, raising concerns that many might shift to other more profitable crops in the upcoming kharif season.
The letter highlights that discussions with thousands of farmers across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan reveal widespread disappointment due to poor returns from soybean cultivation. Many farmers have indicated their reluctance to grow soybeans in the next season if prices remain so low.
SOPA also warned that selling soybean stocks at this time would contradict the government’s objective of boosting oilseed production and achieving self-sufficiency. Drawing a parallel with pulses, the association noted that better price realization is the biggest motivator for farmers to increase productivity, and the same principle applies to oilseeds.
To prevent further distress among farmers, SOPA has requested the Union Agriculture Minister to instruct NAFED and NCCF to sell their soybean stocks only after July 15, 2025, when the sowing season is over. According to SOPA, this move will help stabilize prices and ensure fair returns for farmers.