COOIT to Release Mustard Outlook at Rabi Meet on March 12-13

Edible oil industry apex body Central organization for Oil Industry & Trade (COOIT) will hold its 42nd annual conference on March 12-13 to finalize mustard seed production estimates for the current Rabi (winter-sown) season, as well as discuss other challenges faced by domestic processors, such as high global prices and rising import in value terms.

About Rabi Seminar:

The 42nd All India Rabi Seminar on 'Oilseeds, Oil Trade & Industry' will be attended by several central and state ministers, government officials, farm scientists, industry leaders, and progressive farmers. The event will be co-organized by Mustard Oil Producers Association (MOPA) and Bharatpur Oil Miller's Association (BOMA).

During the two-day conference, Central Organization for Oil Industry & Trade (COOIT) will announce the estimate for the area, productivity per hectare, and production of mustard seed for the 2021-22 crop year (July-June). Mustard is grown only in Rabi season and the sowing starts from October, while harvesting begins from late February.

Mustard is grown majorly in Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh among others. The estimate is finalized by industry players based on the field data related to acreage and crop condition.

We are expecting a record mustard seed production this Rabi season. Farmers have put more area under this crop as they received better realization from their last year's crop. During the conference we will assess the production and availability of oilseeds and oils in the country," said COOIT Chairman Mr. Suresh Nagpal.

Nagpal further said the industry association will discuss in length the prevailing situation in the edible oil sector, both domestic and global. The edible oil sector has been in the limelight for the last year due to the astronomical rise in global prices and palm oil. Since India is heavily dependent on imports, Indian consumers are bearing the brunt and paying more to buy cooking oil

“The industry will prepare a roadmap on how to boost domestic production and reduce import dependence as part of its objective to make available cooking oils at an affordable price,” he said.

 "There is a great scope for the increasing area under the mustard seed. Since the oil content in the mustard seeds is much higher than soybean seeds, it is necessary for the government to incentivize cultivation of this crop," said K. K. Agarwal, President, BOMA

India imports about 60-65 percent of its total domestic demand for edible oils. The import dependence was only 10 percent in 1994-95. In the 2020-21 oil year (November-October), the country's imports remained stable at 13 million tonnes. However, in value terms, the imports went through the roof and touched Rs 1.17 lakh crore from nearly Rs 72,000 crore in the previous year.

COOIT has been demanding from the government to maintain a reasonable import duty difference between the crude edible oil and refined edible oil to protect the interest of local processors. Given high imports and limited supply of local oilseeds, a lot of industry's installed capacity remains unutilized.

The country's annual per capita consumption has shown an increasing trend from 15.8 kg in 2012-13 to current levels of 19-19.5 kg. However, at 1200 kg/hectare, Indian oilseed yields are about half of the world’s average and less than one-third of top producers.

The overall objective of its flagship annual conference includes, protecting the interest of the oil sector; offering suggestions to the government for policy making; making representations to the government against policies hurting farmers and the industry; creating awareness about new technology. The delegates will also deliberate on steps required to ensure the supply of good quality edible oil to consumers.

About COOIT

Established in 1958, COOIT is engaged in the development and growth of the vegetable oil sector which is crucial to the economy. The COOIT is the national apex body representing the interests of the entire vegetable oil sector in the country and its members include state-level associations, prominent manufacturing/business concerns in Industry, Trade and Export Houses, etc.