भाषा:

India’s soybean output in the Kharif 2026 season is seen at 107.93 lakh tonnes, down 2.11% from 110.26 lakh tonnes last year, according to the first crop estimate of the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), shared at its international soybean conference in Indore on 17 October 2026. The national fall is small, but it hides a big split between states: Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan did well, while drought hit Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana. Soybean is crushed into soya DOC, the main protein in poultry feed, so here is what this means for feed, cost of production and rates.

Key facts

ItemKharif 2026 (SOPA first estimate)
Production107.93 lakh tonnes, down 2.11% from 110.26 lakh tonnes
Sown area117.73 lakh ha, up nearly 5% from 112.14 lakh ha
Harvested area109.98 lakh ha
Average yield981 kg/ha (983 kg/ha last year)
Area hit by drought and low soil moisture7.76 lakh ha
Completely destroyed (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana)7.02 lakh ha
Madhya Pradesh57.16 lakh tonnes, up 32.2% (yield 1,108 kg/ha vs 889)
Maharashtra34.88 lakh tonnes, down 33.2%
Rajasthan9.47 lakh tonnes, up 48.2%

Why is the output lower?

More land was sown this year, yet the crop is smaller. The reason is weather. SOPA says long dry spells and low soil moisture at critical growth stages hurt the crop in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana. In Madhya Pradesh, the largest producer, area and yield both rose, and Rajasthan also did well. SOPA’s executive director D N Pathak said the higher output in these two states has almost offset the Maharashtra losses. The numbers are a first estimate and can be revised as harvest and mandi arrivals come in.

What it means for poultry feed

Soya DOC (de-oiled cake, also called soybean meal) is the main protein ingredient in broiler and layer feed. A 2% national dip is small, so on this number alone we do not expect a sudden spike in DOC prices. The risks are different:

  • Regional shortage: the losses are in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana, all with large poultry and feed industries. Plants there may buy beans from Madhya Pradesh, which adds freight cost.
  • Quality: crops that suffered moisture stress can have small or shrivelled beans and lower oil yield, so check every DOC lot you buy.
  • Other drivers: soya prices also depend on global oilseed prices, imports, the rupee and demand. This estimate is one input, not the whole story.
  • Maize is also firm this season, so protein and energy costs can rise together.

Effect on cost of production

Feed is roughly two thirds of the cost of raising a broiler. Soya DOC is often around a fifth to a third of a broiler ration, depending on the stage. This is an illustration, not a forecast: at an FCR of 1.7, a rise in soya DOC price changes the feed cost per kg of live bird like this.

If soya DOC rises byFeed cost rises by (per kg feed)Cost per kg live bird rises by
₹1 per kg₹0.20 to 0.30₹0.34 to 0.51
₹2 per kg₹0.40 to 0.60₹0.68 to 1.02
₹4 per kg₹0.80 to 1.20₹1.36 to 2.04

Check your own formula. If soya share and FCR in your shed differ, the numbers will differ too.

Effect on rate trends

  • Broiler and egg rates are set mainly by bird supply, demand and season, not directly by soya. Higher feed cost raises the break-even rate, it does not raise the market rate by itself.
  • If margins stay thin, integrators and farmers place fewer chicks, and a few weeks later bird supply falls, which usually supports rates.
  • Winter demand normally holds rates better from January, so batches placed now can still do well if feed is bought carefully.
  • Dairy farmers buying compound feed or oil cakes may see small price rises, which adds to the cost of milk.

What farmers should do now

  • Do not panic buy. Stock only what you can store dry and use in time. Damp DOC grows mould.
  • Check each DOC lot for colour, smell, moisture and lumps before accepting it.
  • Work out your own break-even with today’s feed price and track it weekly against the live rate.
  • Ask your nutritionist to balance amino acids so you do not pay for extra protein you do not need.
  • Cut feed wastage and record FCR for every batch. Saved feed is the quickest margin.
  • Watch mandi arrivals and the next SOPA update before taking large stock.
  • Dairy farmers: grow or buy legume green fodder such as berseem or lucerne to reduce costly concentrate.

FAQ

How much will soybean production fall in Kharif 2026?

SOPA’s first estimate is 107.93 lakh tonnes, down 2.11% from 110.26 lakh tonnes last year. It is an early estimate and may be revised.

Will poultry feed become costlier?

A 2% fall alone is unlikely to cause a sharp rise, but regional shortages in the south and west, freight, quality and global prices can keep soya DOC firm. Budget for firm protein prices.

Will broiler rates go up because of this?

Not directly. Rates follow bird supply and demand. Costlier feed raises the break-even rate and, if it cuts chick placements, can support rates a few weeks later.

Source: Economic Times, 18 Oct 2026; figures cross-checked with Rozana Spokesman and Lapaas Voice. Impact analysis is the IMN Pyrophos team’s own assessment, written in our own words.

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