"Indian Farmers at Risk from Low-Priced US Soybeans, Says SOPA"

Source: CNBC TV 18, Cheaper U.S. soybeans may look attractive on paper, but for Indian farmers, they could be a recipe for disaster.

India’s soybean industry is staring at an unsettling storm, and the warning bells are being rung by none other than the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA).

According to DN Pathak, Executive Director of SOPA, the U.S. has around 25 million tonnes of soybeans that China is no longer buying. With Beijing stepping back, global markets are searching for alternative buyers — and there’s growing pressure on India to absorb part of this surplus.

“To suddenly find a new market for such a huge quantity is a great job, and there will be pressure on India to accept some of it,” Pathak explained.

But for India’s soybean farmers, the implications could be devastating. The country has about 12 million hectares under soybean cultivation and supports the livelihoods of 5–7 million farmers. The industry itself is valued at around $6–8 billion.

Already, domestic soybean prices are hovering below the minimum support price (MSP). With U.S. soybeans entering the market at much cheaper rates, Indian farmers would find it nearly impossible to compete. The flood of imports could erode farm incomes, disrupt rural employment, and destabilize the broader agricultural economy.

Pathak also made it clear that genetically modified (GM) soybeans should not be considered an option. “Allowing GM imports would only worsen farmer distress and employment losses,” he said, firmly ruling out the idea.

For now, SOPA’s message is straightforward: while trade compulsions may push for U.S. soybean inflows, India cannot afford to compromise its farming backbone. Protecting millions of farmers and sustaining the domestic oilseed ecosystem must take priority over short-term trade pressures.