India's soybean production in 2019 is likely to fall nearly 18% from a year ago to 9 million tonnes as excessive rainfall hit the oilseed crop in the top three-producing states, a leading industry group said.

The crop was badly affected in low-lying areas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan due to water-logging, the Soybean Processors Association of India said in a statement. Reuters reported.

The central state of Madhya Pradesh, the biggest producer of soybeans in the country, received 44% above-average rainfall in 2019. The western states of Maharashtra and Rajasthan are India's second- and third-biggest producers.