Mustard acreage surpasses 2011 as winter sets in north India

As the winter gradually sets in over most parts of north and central India, sowing of rabi oilseeds, particularly mustard has surpassed last year’s acreage.

According to the latest government data, mustard has been sown in around 5.71 million hectares of land till Thursday, marginally more than 5.64 million hectares sown during the corresponding period last year. 

Mustard seed is the biggest oilseed grown in Indian during the rabi season and its production is critical to determine the extent of edible oils import that India needs every year. It has the maximum oil content among all oilseeds planted in the country.  

In 2011-12, India produced 6.7 million tonnes of mustard seed, official statement showed. The government has fixed a target of producing 8.19 million tonnes of oilseeds in 2012-13 season. Mustard acreage in Rajasthan, the biggest producer, was 2.58 million hectares till Thursday, up 2.8 per cent from last year, the data showed.

Among other crops, the data showed that wheat, the biggest foodgrain grown during the rabi season, has been planted in around 15.78 million hectares till November 29, 2.9 per cent less than corresponding period of last year. A week before, acreage under wheat was 4.6 per cent less than the same period of 2011.

“Wheat and mustard sowing has gathered momentum as winters have progressed in north and central India, it will further pick up in the coming weeks,” a senior official said.

The official data also showed that sowing of wheat has been sluggish in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.  Of the, three, Madhya Pradesh has emerged as premier wheat growing state in the last few years. The government has fixed a target of producing 86 million tonnes of wheat in 2012-13. In 2011-12, India produced a record 93.90 million tonnes of wheat.

Sowing of pulses continues to lag behind despite late withdrawal of southwest monsoon. The data showed that pulses have been planted in around 10.24 million hectares till Thursday, 6.45 per cent less than the same period in 2011-2012.

Planting of pulses has been particularly bad in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan where the crop has been planted in around 1.34 and 1.13 million hectares till Thursday respectively, almost 26.5 per cent and 18.3 per cent less than the same period last year.

The rabi sowing season accounts for almost 60 per cent of total pulses grown. Farm production grew at an 11-quarter low of 1.2 per cent in the second quarter of this financial year, the latest GDP data showed.