The Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association (CLFMA) of India has expressed concern over the growing shortage and a sharp increase in the price of soybean meal, a critical protein ingredient used in animal feed.

Soybean meal prices have risen by over 40 per cent in recent weeks to around ₹65-66 per kg, increasing the cost of feed production and impacting farmers across the animal protein value chain.

The current supply constraints and rising prices are placing immense pressure on feed manufacturers and farmers alike, threatening the competitiveness and sustainability of India’s animal protein value chain, CLFMA said in a statement.

The concern is particularly acute for the aquaculture sector, where feed accounts for nearly 50-60 per cent of production costs. As India continues to strengthen its position as a global seafood supplier, ensuring access to affordable, high-quality feed ingredients has become increasingly important.

Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairperson, CLFMA of India said “India’s poultry, aquaculture and livestock sectors are critical contributors to food security, rural livelihoods and exports. A sustained shortage of soybean meal and escalating feed costs can adversely impact farm productivity and profitability across the value chain. As India sets its sights on becoming a global seafood export powerhouse, ensuring access to high-quality and affordable feed ingredients must become a national priority. CLFMA urges all stakeholders to work together towards a balanced, long-term solution that protects farmers’ interests while strengthening the country’s feed and animal agriculture ecosystem.”

The issue assumes even greater significance in light of the Government of India’s vision to significantly expand seafood exports. Recently, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India has the potential to increase seafood exports to $30 billion over the next five years, nearly 2.5 times the current levels. Achieving this ambitious target will require a strong and resilient feed ecosystem that can consistently support productivity, quality standards and export competitiveness.

As the apex industry body representing feed manufacturers and allied stakeholders, CLFMA of India believes that proactive interventions are required to ensure adequate availability of soybean meal and support farmers. To address the emerging challenge, CLFMA recommends that the government ensure balanced availability of soybean meal for domestic feed manufacturing while safeguarding the interests of soybean growers, besides promoting investments in soybean processing and value-chain infrastructure to improve supply efficiency.

It has also suggested strengthening collaboration between policymakers, farmer bodies, processors and feed manufacturers to develop a long-term protein security roadmap and facilitate a stable and predictable policy environment that supports feed affordability and sectoral growth, besides establishing mechanisms to monitor soybean meal availability and price volatility to prevent supply disruptions.

Published on June 12, 2026