India’s soybean production in the 2025-26 crop year has declined to 12.72 million tons from 15.26 million tons in the 2024-25, according to statistics from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
As per the estimates of the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), the output in the current year is estimated at 11.02 million tons compared to 12.88 million tons in previous year.
This sharp decline in production will directly impact the availability and prices of soybean meal, which serves as an essential protein base for poultry feed, dairy feed, shrimp feed and fish feed.
If left unaddressed, this could impact the feed supplies to the poultry industry with effects on food inflation and the rural economy.
GM soybean meal
Most of the national and state level poultry associations are writing letters to concern the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and the Ministry of Commerce to allow the import of GM (genetically modified) soybean meal.
The poultry industry has still five months to operate before the new crop supplies come in, an immediate intervention of GM soybean meal imports will give much needed respite to the poultry industry and will have a balancing act between supply and demand.
Given the current circumstances of soybean meal supplies, the poultry industry has suggested several measures to the government to address the issue which would save consumer interest and ensure an uninterrupted supply of protein-rich feed.
Ricky Thaper on behalf of the Indian poultry Industry has urged the government to allow the import of 1.5 million tons of GM soybean meal this year.