Mustard seed output to rise 40%

The output of rapeseed / mustard seed is likely to rise 39.43 per cent this rabi season (November -February) on favourable climatic condition and record high acreage area.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA), the output of the largest rabi oilseed crop is estimated to jump to 64 lakh tonnes during the current rabi season as compared to 45.9 lakh tonnes in the same season last year.

The sudden spurt in output assumes significance as the country is facing huge supply deficit of edible oils and additional output is expected to offer relief to the country’s foreign currency outgo.

A 23-member team consisting of leading crushers, oilmillers, representatives of global companies, agronomists and commodity analysts headed by D P Khandelia, chairman of SEA Rapeseed-Mustard seed Promotion Council conducted the survey between February 2 - 8 across two leading oilseed producing states including Gujarat and Rajasthan. 

The team finds that farmers responded positively to the skyrocketting edible oil prices last year and diverted additional area to rapeseed/mustard seed.

Thus, the sowing area under this seed jumped around 10 per cent to 65.88 lakh hectare this season as compared to 59.82 lakh hactare during the corresponding season last year.

The survey finds Rajasthan to continue as the leading state for mustardseed with an estimated output of 29 lakh tonnes this season (19.5 lakh tonnes during the last season) in a projected sowing area of 28.03 lakh hectare (24.78 lakh hectare).

Estimate of rapeseed - mustard crop 2008-09
State	Area lakh hactare* 2008-09	Crop estimate** in lakh tonnes
		2007-08	2008-09	2007-08
Gujarat	2.94	3.41	3.6	4.2
Rajasthan	28.03	24.78	29	19.5
UP	8.77	7.90	11	6.5
Punjab / Haryana	6.60	5.94	7.3	4.1
MP and Chhattisgarh	9.31	6.90	7.5	5.3
West Bengal	4.50	4.50	2.5	2.6
Others	5.73	6.39	3.1	3.7
Total	65.88	59.82	64	45.9
* Government Estimate ** Trade Estimate

Uttar Pradesh will be placed second from the top with an output of 11 lakh tonnes (6.5 lakh tonnes) in a covered area of 8.77 lakh hectare (7.90 lakh hectare).

It is observed that due to late sowing, nearly 30 per cent of the total crop would be harvested in the next month, as such their production and yield could vary depending on the weather conditions during the next one month, the survey said.