Edible oil industry Central Apex body COOIT on Monday released production estimate of mustard seeds for 2021-22 crop year at an all-time high of 109.50 lakh tonnes up 29 percent from the previous year.
The output of mustard seeds, which is grown in rabi (winter-sown) season, stood at 85 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The Central Organisation for Oil Industry & Trade (COOIT) finalized the estimates of mustard seed production during its 42nd annual conference, which was held at Bharatpur in Rajasthan on 12th and 13th March 2022.
The 42nd All India Rabi Seminar on 'Oilseeds, Oil Trade & Industry' was attended by several State Ministers, government officials, farm scientists, Industry leaders, and progressive farmers.
The Rabi seminar was Hosted by Bharatpur Oil Miller's Association (BOMA). As per the COOIT data, mustard seed production is estimated at 109.5 lakh tonnes in 2021-22.
The area under coverage has been pegged at 87.44 lakh hectares while the average yield is seen at 1270 kg per hectare. COOIT has finalized estimates for mustard seed production in this Rabi season after extensive field visits by different teams all over India. The production is set to rise at record 109.5 lakh tonnes, Taramira 1.50 lakh ton," COOIT Chairman Suresh Nagpal said.
The likely rise in mustard seeds production augurs well for the country, as the domestic output of mustard oil will increase and our overall edible oils import may come down, he said.
"Farmers have put more area under mustard seeds crop during this rabi season as they received better realisation from their last year's crop," Nagpal said. Mustard seeds are grown only in the Rabi season and the sowing starts from October, while harvesting begins from March.
Mustard is an important Cash crop for farmers in Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh among others. Rajasthan is the largest producing state in the country. In Uttar Pradesh, production is likely to increase from 13.5 lakh tonnes to 17 lakh tonnes. Mustard seed production in Madhya Pradesh is estimated to rise to 12.5 lakh tonnes from 8.5 lakh tonnes.
In Punjab and Haryana, mustard seeds production is expected 11.50 lakh tonnes, up from 9.5 lakh tonnes in the previous year. Production in Gujarat is expected to rise at 6.5 lakh tons as against 4 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The output in West Bengal, eastern India, and other states are likely to remain the same 14.5 lakh ton as of last year.
India imports about 60-65 percent of its total domestic demand for edible oils. In the 2020-21 oil year (November-October), the country's imports remained stable at 13 million tonnes. However, in value terms, imports touched Rs 1.17 lakh crore from nearly Rs 72,000 crore in the previous year.
During the conference, the delegates deliberated on various challenges faced by the Indian edible oil industry.
The need to increase domestic production of mustard seeds, which has around 38-43 percent oil content, was emphasized during the meeting as this would not only cut India’s edible oil import but also help small millers in the utilization of their installed capacities. During the two-day seminar, the association complimented the government for encouraging the farmers for shifting the area to mustard seed from other crops.
