The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) has reported encouraging results from its Regenerative Mustard Model Farm Programme, which delivered mustard yield improvements of up to 30 per cent across demonstration farms in Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh during the 2025-26 rabi season, according to a media statement from AWL Agri Business Ltd, the programme's lead sponsor.
Programme Partners and Scale
The programme is led by SEA and implemented by Solidaridad Network Asia, with industry partners including Bunge India, Louis Dreyfus India, Godrej Agrovet, VVF India, JR Agro Industries and Arihant Solvex. Launched in 2019, the initiative currently covers 3,000 front line demonstration plots across 14 districts in Rajasthan, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. It is supported by 27 farmer field schools to facilitate knowledge exchange and adoption of best practices.
Yield Improvements by State
The programme demonstrated significant productivity gains across all three states, with detailed data released by SEA:
| State | Districts | Plots | Yield Before (kg/ha) | Yield After (kg/ha) | Yield Increase | BCR Before | BCR After |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan | Baran, Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar, Tonk | 1,320 | 1,853 | 2,409 | 30% | 2.6 | 4.0 |
| Haryana | Rewari, Mahendragarh | 100 | 1,900 | 2,470 | 30% | 3.5 | 4.8 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam, Shajapur, Agar Malwa, Vidisha, Raisen | 1,580 | 1,900 | 2,295 | 20.5% | 2.5 | 3.1 |
In Rajasthan, mustard yields rose from 1,853 kg/ha to 2,409 kg/ha, with the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) improving from 2.6 to 4.0. Haryana saw similar gains: yields jumped from 1,900 kg/ha to 2,470 kg/ha, BCR from 3.5 to 4.8. In Madhya Pradesh, yields increased 20.5% from 1,900 kg/ha to 2,295 kg/ha, with BCR improving from 2.5 to 3.1.
Implications for India's Edible Oil Value Chain
The results come at a time when India imports 55-60 per cent of its edible oil requirements, making domestic productivity a national priority. According to the statement, Shrikant Kanhere, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AWL Agri Business Ltd, said that India's journey towards edible oil self-reliance begins with improving productivity at the farm level. He added that regenerative agriculture can help farmers produce more while improving soil health and using inputs more efficiently.
"The encouraging results of this programme demonstrate that regenerative agriculture can help farmers produce more while improving soil health and using inputs more efficiently."
The programme focused on regenerative practices such as improved soil health management, balanced nutrient use and sustainable cultivation techniques. The media statement from AWL Agri Business emphasised that collaborative initiatives like this create a scalable model to strengthen farmer incomes, build climate resilience and contribute to India's long-term food and nutrition security.
Expansion Plans for 2026-27
Looking ahead, SEA — in collaboration with Solidaridad Network Asia and industry partners — plans to significantly expand the programme during the 2026-27 crop cycle. The next phase will establish more than 400 regenerative groundnut and soybean model farms during the kharif season and over 3,000 regenerative rape-mustard model farms during the rabi season across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, according to the statement.
For commodity traders and agribusiness executives, the programme signals a potential shift in India's oilseed supply dynamics. If scaled successfully, improved domestic mustard yields could gradually reduce import requirements over the medium term, though the immediate impact on edible oil prices remains limited. The expansion into groundnut and soybean indicates a broader push for oilseed self-reliance.
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