The soybean production of 2025–26 in India appears as per the Government estimate is 12.7 Million Tons, released on March 10, 2026 by PIB. This itself shows a declining crop production by 17% in comparison to the Government of India data/report for 2024–25, which was 15.1 Million Tons. Hence, the decline of soybean production has resulted in an acute shortage of soybean meal, which is a major protein input for animal feed- poultry, dairy, fisheries and aqua feed.
The current soya meal price seems to be a continuous trend of price surge, day on day and week on week. This is making dairy, poultry, aqua and fish farmers panic due to the rise in input cost. The feed industry itself is not in a position to absorb the cost and produce viably. The surge has also resulted in the higher prices of poultry produce like egg, chicken, all dairy produce by primarily milk paneer, curd etc, fish and shrimp. Previously, in a similar situation, in 2020–21 period when a shortage of feed ingredient soybean meal, caused by low production levels, plunged the entire industry into crisis, the government provided timely support to the sector by authorizing the import of 1.2 million metric tons of GM soymeal.
To overcome the crisis, the poultry, dairy and aqua industry associations have requested the concern Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Animal Husbandry for the below options:
1. Implementation of a Market Linked Mechanism for Import Policy in order to safeguard the interests of both soybean-producing farmers and Poultry, dairy and aqua farmers. Under this mechanism, whenever the market price of soybean exceeds 25% above MSP or rises beyond Rs.6,660 per quintal, permission for the import of GM soybean meal may automatically be granted. This would help protect the interests of both “producer farmers” and “consumer farmers.”
2. Implementation of stock limits: Also, ensure stock limits for all warehouses and stock locations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. They should also report their stocks daily and weekly to the authorities, as was asked by the Hon’ble Ministry of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India. However, the stockist lobby in various States has deferred this, which is resulting in this price surge.
3. Import of GM Soybean Meal: Permission may kindly be granted for 1.5 Million Tons of GM soybean meal, which will control the current and future crisis until the new crop arrival in the month of October. After paying the duty, the landed price of soybean meal would be Rs.62,500 per MT, which will not adversely affect Indian soya farmers, as soya seed prices would still remain above the MSP declared by the Government of India for soya seed. This will not only help stabilize the current soybean meal prices, which will benefit the livestock feed industry, but also earn a healthy revenue of ₹450 crores for the Government of India. Alongside, it will help farmers get better realization of their crops by getting 25–30% more than the declared Government MSP on soya seed.
Such calibrated and temporary measures will help stabilise feed input markets, protect lakhs of poultry farmers, moderate egg and chicken prices for consumers, and safeguard livelihoods across rural India. We are confident that your positive intervention will play a pivotal role in safeguarding the interests of poultry, aquaculture and livestock farmers across the country.
The 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. If left unaddressed, the situation may trigger a contraction in poultry production, with effects on food inflation and the rural economy. Given the current circumstances, taking the following steps appears imperative to ensure the continuity of the industry and to safeguard the interests of consumers and to ensure an uninterrupted supply of protein-rich feed,
The Industry Associations are hopeful that Hon’ble Minister shall give urgent consideration and take early action in the larger national interest of ensuring protein affordability, food security and stability in the poultry sector.
