Mangaluru

The ‘Regenerative Mustard Model Farm’ programme implemented by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) and other stakeholders improved yields and profitability in model farms across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana during the 2025-26 rabi season.

The programme established 3,000 frontline demonstration (FLD) plots covering 3,000 acres across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. A media statement by SEA said the programme demonstrated how sustainable farming practices can improve productivity, profitability and long-term farm resilience.

In Rajasthan, model farms achieved a 30 per cent increase in yield from 1,853 kg/ha to 2,409 kg/ha. Benefit-cost ratio improved from 2.6 to 4, highlighting the strong profitability potential of regenerative practices.

The programme covered 1,320 model farms in Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar, Tonk and Baran of Rajasthan.

30% up in Haryana

In Haryana, yields increased by 30 per cent from 1,900 kg/ha to 2,470 kg/ha. Benefit-cost ratio climbed from 3.5 to 4.8, demonstrating how regenerative agriculture can enhance both farm productivity and farmer incomes.

Around 100 model farms in Haryana’s Rewari and Mahendragarh districts were part of this programme.

Regenerative model farms in Madhya Pradesh recorded a 20.5 per cent increase in yield, rising from 1,900 kg/ha to 2,295 kg/ha. Farmers also achieved higher gross incomes and lower cultivation costs, resulting in an improved benefit-cost ratio of 3.1 compared to 2.5 in conventional farms.

As many as 1,580 model farms in Neemuch, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Shajapur, Agar Malwa, Vidisha, Raisen and Ujjain districts of Madhya Pradesh were part of this programme.

The statement said that the adoption of improved production practices significantly enhanced profitability with the highest increase in benefit-cost ratio observed in Rajasthan (54 per cent increase), followed by Haryana (37 per cent increase) and Madhya Pradesh (24 per cent increase).

Plea to Agri Ministry

Quoting Sanjeev Asthana, SEA President, the statement said: “It’s good to see these results as that’s what we set out for when we started the Mustard Model Farm programme back in 2019. It’s high time we take such an exemplary programme to various corners and oilseeds wherever possible so that we can have higher growth domestically and realistically lesser dependence on imports.”

BV Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, said: “In fact, to expand scalability and its impact, we’ve requested the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to consider collaboration with SEA for the ongoing and future FLD initiatives.”

The programme was implemented by SEA, in partnership with Solidaridad Network Asia Ltd. AWL Agribusiness Ltd, Bunge India Pvt Ltd, Louis Dreyfus India Pvt Ltd, Godrej Agrovet Ltd, VVF India Pvt Ltd, JR Agro Industries Ltd and Arihant Solvex Pvt Ltd supported the programme.

Published on June 25, 2026