Mustard production may rise by 10% to 5.5 MT this year

Mustard production in the country may rise by 10 per cent to 5.5 million tonnes this year on account of favorable weather conditions in last few days.
The cold weather conditions have picked up in the northern and central India, which is good for standing mustard crop.
Some winter showers have also given a breather to the farmers, as a drop in temperature benefits the standing crops.
Currently, the mustard crop is at flowering stage and the flowering in mustard is higher by 10-15 per cent as compared to last year, Puri Oil Mills Managing Director Vivek Puri said.
"The development of crop and output would be better if the chillness in winters continues and conditions remain favorable," he added.

Last year, rain and hailstorm affected the mustard crop output by 10-20 per cent. This year, in spite of lesser mustard sowing, the crop output may be a little more as compared to last year if the conditions and circumstances are favorable, he added.

"Last year, the production was around 5 million tonnes, this year it could reach 5.5 million tonnes due to favorable weather conditions in last few days," industry body Solvent Extractors Association's Executive Director B V Mehta told PTI.
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana are the few main mustard producing states, wherein Rajasthan alone contributes to the 50 per cent production of mustard crop.

Puri also said that mustard oil has the potential to reduce edible oil imports, if mustard is declared a national crop by the Indian government, on the lines of what the Malaysian government has done for palm oil.