Indian farmers are opting to sell rapeseed to private traders as market prices soar above government procurement rates, currently at ₹6,200 per 100 kg. With prices reaching around ₹7,000, farmers like Roop Singh from Bharatpur district in Rajasthan, the country's largest rapeseed producer, find private sales more lucrative. This trend is fueled by a rally in edible oil prices due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has increased demand for biofuels. The surge in rapeseed prices, which have risen about 9% since March, is also supported by strong demand for rapeseed oil and meal. Additionally, a significant increase in Chinese imports of India's rapeseed meal, from 24,044 tons to 771,435 metric tons year-on-year, is bolstering prices further. As a result, India's rapeseed production is expected to hit a record 11.94 million tons in 2026, marking a 3.6% increase from the previous year. This shift towards private trading is expected to ease India's reliance on imported edible oils, which account for nearly a third of its cooking oil demand.