Oilseed sowing lags last year's pace

Oilseed sowing in the country has covered about 45 per cent of the area usually covered, as on date, according to official sources.

Of the estimated total sowing area of 17.7 million hectares for kharif oil seeds (groundnut, soybean, sesame, sunflower, niger and castor), various state reports on this have aggregated to 7.5-8 million hectares . At the same time last year, sowing had covered about 55 per cent of the estimated total area. It recovered in the later part of August.

Officials say overall edible oilseed production might still not suffer much, as there is a contingency plan to sow sesame and castor, grown towards August, in addition to pulses. Mid-July is the peak season for castor sowing.

For Gujarat, which accounts for the major part of groundnut production, 25 per cent sowing has happened, of 400,000 hectares against 650,000 hectares at this time last year. However, state government officials are hopeful of another 10 per cent being added by the end of this week. They say Saurashtra, the main region for groundnut production, is witnessing good rainfall this week.

Maharashtra, on the other hand, a major grower of soybean, in addition to Madhya Pradesh, has seen more sowing this year compared to last year at this period, 97 per cent to 78 per cent of the area. However, officials add that if rainfall does not take place for another 10-15 days, then re-sowing will take place and farmers could then opt for other crops. The moisture content at many places is yet to firm up for the final cropping.

However, Rajasthan has reported severe shortfall in sowing across all edible oilseeds, except groundnut. Of the target area of 315,000 hectares for groundnut, sowing has been completed only in 215,000 hectares. In other crops such as sesame, soybean and castor seed, sowing lags. Of the total target area, sowing has been completed only 13 per cent in soybean and three per cent in sesame. Officials say for castor seed and sesame, the peak season for sowing is mid-July to August and is thus expected to improve over the next month.

Andhra Pradesh has received delayed rainfall and sowing is slowly picking up, officials said.

A positive point is international prices of crude palm oil, imported in large quantities by India, has stayed at 3,086-3,134 ringitt per tonne.