Oilseed Crops Attract Farmers Despite Dismal Harvest in Last Season

Oilseed crops like mustard and toriya continue to allure farmers despite the disappointing results from last season. The recent data confirms the fact, as the area covered with mustard expanded from 2,390 hectares in the rabi season of 2020–21 to 5,160 hectares in the following year.

Despite the crop fetching decent prices, Rs 6,200 - Rs 6,500 per quintal for black mustard and Rs 7,200 - Rs 7,500 per quintal for yellow mustard, farmers were unable to turn it into profit due to the low yield.

According to a report, approximately 4,360 hectares of mustard and over 2,500 hectares of toriya have been planted by mid-November this year. Though, as per the Agriculture Department, the season's final report has not been put together yet.

If news reports are to believed, farmers claimed that the output from the previous season was low and hence they couldn't achieve good returns. Due to late rainfall this season, the seeding of the mustard and toriya crops was delayed, and many farmers failed to increase the area under their oilseed crops.

Although, the yield decreased by almost 40 per cent earlier, yet the market valued it highly, therefore, farmers are opting the oilseed crops in hopes of it getting decent prices in the market this time as well.

Traders also think that in the prior growing seasons, oilseed crops have sold for more than the MSP value, and even this year, a sizable portion is below these prices. This year, several potato producers have also switched to oilseed crops. The harvest is expected to reach good levels again.

"Mustard requires lesser input cost than wheat, making it more lucrative and allowing farmers to take other crops after harvesting mustard," Girish Nagpal, deputy director of agriculture recently told the media.

Meanwhile, the union government earlier this month exempted wholesalers and large chain retailers from the stock limit order on edible oil and oil seeds with immediate effect owing to falling edible oil prices in the local and international markets.

According to the ministry of consumer affairs, food, and public distribution, the country's stock limit order was implemented to reduce stockpiling, profiteering, and black marketing as well as to address rising edible oil costs.

"To further streamline the supply chain, the government has announced that huge chain outlets and wholesalers are exempt from the present stock limit rule. The decree will take effect right away. Removing wholesalers and large chain stores from the stock limit order will allow them to maintain numerous types and brands of edible oils that they are currently unable to maintain because of the stock control order", the ministry stated.