Central Organization for Oil Industry and Trade (COOIT), an apex body of the edible oil industry, estimates that the country’s mustard seed production will increase to 100-110 lakh tonnes in the current Rabi season (2021-22 crop year) because of higher sowing by farmers.
The production of mustard, which is one of the major Rabi crops, stood at 85 lakh tonnes in the 2020-21 crop years (July-June).
"Sowing of mustard seeds has increased this year significantly in all major producing states including Rajasthan. We project that production may rise to 100-110 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 season," said COOIT President Babulal Data.
As per the government data, the area under coverage for rapeseed and mustard seeds stood at 81.66 lakh hectares till December 10, 2021, of the ongoing Rabi sowing season as against 65.97 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of last year.
“Farmers got good prices for their mustard crop in the last rabi season. As a result, they have put more area under mustard in the ongoing rabi season," he said. Weather conditions have also been conducive so far. Established in 1952, COOIT is engaged in the development and growth of India's vegetable oil sector.
Mustard Cultivation in India
India is the fourth-largest contributor of oilseeds in the world and Rapeseed and mustard contributes about 28.6% of total oilseeds production. After soybean and palm oil, it is the third important oilseed in the world. Mustard seeds and their oil is used for culinary purpose. Young leaves are used for vegetable purposes. Its oil cake is used for feeding cattle.
Indian mustard, brown and yellow sarson, Raya, and Toria crops are included in mustard rapeseed groups. These are grown mainly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, UP, Haryana, and Gujarat & in some areas of the south like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Yellow sarson is considered as Rabi crop in Assam, Bihar, Orissa, and West Bengal whereas in Punjab, Haryana, UP and Himachal Pradesh it is a catch crop.
Earlier brown sarson was cultivated in most of the areas but now its area under cultivation is getting decreased and replaced by Indian mustard. Brown sarson has two ecotypes Lotni and Toria. Toria is short duration crop sown under irrigated conditions. Gobhi sarson is a new emerging oilseed, it is long duration crop grown in Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.
