Senior Programme Manager, Centre for Responsible Business
India is one of the major producers of oilseeds, accounting for 6%–7% of global production, and also a major consumer (9%–10% of global oilseeds), primarily due to its large population. The per capita annual consumption of edible oil in India has risen sharply over the years, from just 3.2 kg in 1960–61 to 19.7 kg in 2021, highlighting the growing demand for edible oil in the country. It is also the world’s largest importer of edible oils, meeting more than 60% of its domestic requirement through imports.
Within this landscape, soybean plays a significant role. It is grown across 129.57 lakh hectares of Indian land, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan – states that together contribute around 92% of India’s soybean production. Globally, India is the fifth-largest producer of soybean, with a production of 130.5 lakh tonnes in 2023–24, accounting for 3.72% of global output (NITI Aayog, 2024).
Soybean oil also accounts for 23% of India’s total edible oil imports. Additionally, soybean and its derivatives – such as soy meal and lecithin – contribute to approximately 3.5 million metric tonnes of exports, valued at around $56.7 million, making it an economically significant crop for India (Export Import Data, 2024).
Despite its potential, farmers show hesitation to cultivate soybean. Uncertainty around the monsoon and fluctuating market sentiment often leads them to avoid the crop. In recent years, production has stagnated, and soybean is now facing competition from crops like maize, which offer better returns.
The average cost of soybean production in India is Rs. 43,498 per hectare, while the gross return stands at only Rs. 21,420 per hectare (CACP, 2025). In comparison, maize and paddy offered gross returns of Rs. 30,156 and Rs. 30,206 per hectare in 2023-24, respectively. This low return on investment discourages farmers from continuing with soybean cultivation (CACP, 2025).
Soybean cultivation in India is hindered by declining soil health, erratic climate patterns, and rising input costs. Excessive chemical use and poor water management degrade soil, while unpredictable rainfall and temperature affect yields and seed quality. Escalating costs and small and fragmented landholdings further limit profitability and mechanisation, making soybean less viable for small and marginal farmers.
As a result, farmer incomes remain low even as the cost of seeds, fertilisers, and labour keeps rising. As most soybean growers are small and marginal farmers, reduced income from the crop directly impacts their decision to cultivate soybean.
How regenerative agriculture can be a solution for soybean cultivation
Regenerative agriculture is a system of principles and practices that generates agricultural products, sequesters carbon, and enhances biodiversity at the farm level. This method of cultivation recommends reducing chemical use in the field year after year. Although there may be a decline in yield in the first year, but with regular practice, regenerative agriculture can bring yields on par with traditional farming. Its elements include crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, composting, and the use of bio-inputs, among others.
Key benefits of crops produced with regenerative agriculture
– Soil Health Improvement
Regenerative agriculture improves soil health by focusing on restoring and enhancing natural soil functions. It includes practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, composting, and utilising bio-inputs. These methods increase organic matter, improve soil structure, and boost microbial activity, which improves nutrient cycling and water retention. Over time, this leads to healthier soils that support sustainable crop yields and biodiversity. By regenerating the soil, regenerative agriculture not only ensures long-term productivity but also helps combat climate change through increased carbon sequestration.
– Bio-diversity
The elements of regenerative agriculture help improve biodiversity by creating a healthy environment for many plants, animals, and insects. With the reduction of the chemical pesticides and fertilisers, it protects soil microbes and pollinators. Crop rotation, crop diversification, etc, can attract more species and keep the ecosystem balanced.
– Water Conservation
The elements of regenerative agriculture help conserve water by reducing water loss. Practices like cover cropping, no-till farming, composting, and mulching make the soil rich in organic matter which allows the soil to hold more water, reducing the need for frequent irrigation. Additionally, cover mulch reduces evaporation by protecting the soil surface.
– Reduced Cost of Production
The cost of production decreases with the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, which rely on natural and low-cost methods. Expenses are reduced through the use of affordable bio-pesticides and bio-fertilisers, and labour costs decline with low-till or no-till farming techniques.
– Climate Resilient Agriculture
Regenerative agriculture not only reduces the carbon emission in the crop production but also sequesters carbon through the crop via cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, no-till farming, and agroforestry.
Table 1: Challenges in the Soyabean cultivation and Its benefit through regenerative practices
Challenge | Regenerative Practice | Benefit |
Soil Health Decline | Composting, crop rotation | Restoration of soil organic content, biodiversity improvement |
Climate risk | Mulching, cover crops, water conservation | Improves soil moisture, resilience and soil organic content |
Yield stagnation | Intercropping, crop rotation, farm yard manure, vermicompost | Enhances productivity with soil health improvement after some years |
Input cost burden | Bio-pesticides, bio-fertilisers | Reduced cost of cultivation with pesticides/ fertiliser cost saved |
Carbon footprint of cultivation | Biochar, agroforestry | Reduced carbon emission/ increased sequestration |
Regenerative agriculture is more than a farming practice — it is a transformative approach that supports both national sustainability goals and the vision of a self-reliant India. It offers a way to revive degraded soil, improve farmers’ health, reduce dependency on costly chemical inputs, and prepare farmers for climate shocks. This shift empowers small and marginal farmers with better incomes, greater resource efficiency, and reduced exposure to external risks. Importantly, it can also enhance India’s agricultural competitiveness by improving productivity in the long run, lowering the environmental footprint of produce, and aligning with growing global demand for sustainable and traceable food systems. In doing so, regenerative agriculture is an approach that can support national goals of food security, rural prosperity, and long-term economic self-sufficiency of farmers and farming communities.
“NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of CRB.”
