New Delhi, July 10: AWL Agri Business Limited, one of India’s food and FMCG companies, has welcomed the encouraging results of the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India’s 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.
AWL participated in the initiative as the lead sponsor in partnership with Bunge India, Louis Dreyfus India, Godrej Agrovet, VVF India, JR Agro Industries and Arihant Solvex, while Solidaridad Network Asia served as the programme’s implementation partner.
The programme demonstrates how regenerative agriculture can improve farm productivity while promoting healthier soils, efficient input use and better farm economics. At a time when India imports nearly 55–60 per cent of its edible oil requirements, improving domestic oilseed productivity has become a national priority. The encouraging results reinforce the potential of regenerative farming practices to strengthen India’s edible oil value chain while enhancing farmer livelihoods.
Commenting on the programme’s outcomes, Shrikant Kanhere, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, AWL Agri Business Limited, said,
“India’s journey towards edible oil self-reliance begins with improving productivity at the farm level. The encouraging results of this programme demonstrate that regenerative agriculture can help farmers produce more while improving soil health and using inputs more efficiently. Collaborative initiatives like these create a scalable model that can strengthen farmer incomes, build climate resilience, and contribute meaningfully to India’s long-term food and nutrition security.”
Launched in 2019, the SEA-led Regenerative Mustard Model Farm Programme currently spans 3,000 Front Line Demonstration plots across 14 districts in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana. Implemented by SEA, the programme works directly with lead farmers to demonstrate regenerative and climate-resilient agricultural practices, including improved soil health management, balanced nutrient use, and sustainable cultivation techniques. It is also supported by 27 Farmer Field Schools , enabling farmers to exchange knowledge and accelerate the adoption of best practices across local communities.
The programme delivered significant improvements in productivity and farm economics across all three participating states. In Rajasthan, 1,320 demonstration plots across Baran, Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar and Tonk districts recorded a 30 per cent increase in mustard yields, rising from 1,853 kilograms per hectare to 2,409 kilograms per hectare, while the benefit-cost ratio improved from 2.6 to 4.0. In Haryana, 100 demonstration plots across Rewari and Mahendragarh districts achieved a similar 30 per cent increase in yields, from 1,900 kilograms per hectare to 2,470 kilograms per hectare, with the benefit-cost ratio improving from 3.5 to 4.8. In Madhya Pradesh, 1,580 demonstration plots across Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam, Shajapur, Agar Malwa, Vidisha and Raisen districts recorded a 20.5 per cent increase in yields, from 1,900 kilograms per hectare to 2,295 kilograms per hectare, while the benefit-cost ratio improved from 2.5 to 3.1.
Building on the success of the first phase, 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.The expansion aligns with the Government of India’s National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds which aims to enhance domestic oilseed production through higher farm productivity, sustainable agricultural practices, and reduced dependence on edible oil imports.
As one of India’s foods and FMCG companies with deep linkages across the agricultural value chain, AWL Agri Business remains committed to supporting science-based initiatives that strengthen agricultural resilience, promote sustainable farming practices, and create long-term value for farming communities. The company will continue working with industry partners to advance India’s edible oil ecosystem and contribute to the nation’s long-term goal of edible oil self-reliance.