The wholesale prices of mustard fell across the benchmark markets of India, according to the data from the Agmarknet portal run by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
As of March 31, 2024, the monthly average wholesale prices of mustard fell by Rs 126.73 to Rs 5,265.45 per quintal. Among all the regions, Karnataka saw the largest fall of around 14.6% to Rs 7,416 per quintal, followed by Uttarakhand with a 9.11% drop to Rs 3,979.
Other states and union territories where the wholesale prices slumped are Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. In Chhattisgarh, the prices fell by 4.02% to Rs 4,924 and in Maharashtra by around 3.73% to Rs 6,242. In Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the prices fell by 1.41% to Rs 4,770 and by around 0.70% to Rs 5,148, respectively.
However, the wholesale prices of mustard rose in Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. In Haryana, the prices increased by 6.31% to Rs 5,091 per quintal, and in Madhya Pradesh by around 5.40% to Rs 4,819.
Mustard is prominently a rabi crop and is largely grown in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Bihar. Besides India, this oilseed is majorly grown in Nepal, Pakistan, the United States, and Canada.
For those interested in exploring the prices of various crops in their respective state markets, the official website agmarknet.gov.in provides a comprehensive list. Understanding the price dynamics of different crops and their quality assessment remains pivotal in navigating market fluctuations for farmers and traders alike.