Due to favourable weather and use of high yielding seed varieties, mustard seed production is expected to rise substantially this year.
In a recent study, Delhi-based mustard research promotion council (MRPC) said that the production of mustard seed is expected to be close to 7 million tonne as against 4.6 million tonne achieved last year.
The Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) recently pegged mustard output at over 6.4 million tonne in 2009.
“Due to conducive weather condition like no frost and cooler climate during sowing season, we are anticipating a significant rise in production this year,” H B Singh, executive director, MRPC told FE.
Singh also said that some of the high yielding varieties that have been developed specifically for Rajasthan and Haryana might boost mustard seed production.
According to ministry of agriculture estimates, rapeseed/ mustard acreage in the country during the ongoing rabi has risen by more than 12% in comparison to last year and may exceed 6.6 million hectare by the time sowing ends across India. Meanwhile, analysts say that with an expectation of bumper crop, the prices of mustard oil may fall over the next few months.
MRPC said that acreage last year reduced by about 20% and the yield decreased to 10%.
“Due to significant increase in cultivation area and expected rise in yield, the production would be close to 7 million tonne this year,” Singh said.
The government has increased minimum support price for mustard to Rs 1,830 per quintal this year from Rs 1,800 per quintal in 2007-08.
The role of mustard in country’s edible oil sector is vital as it contributes about 40% of total edible oil production. The country is self sufficient in mustard production and there is no exportable surplus.
It is one of the most important oilseed crops of India and needs fewer inputs as compared to other oilseed crops.
Most of the country’s mustard oil consumption is based in Eastern and Northern India. Besides being used for cooking, mustard oil is used for preparation of hydrogenated fats (vanaspati) and the residue (oilmeal) is used for poultry feed.
Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are major mustard producing states. Rajasthan leads the production with estimated 2.9 million tonne followed by Uttar Pradesh with about 8.8 lakh tonne and other states produce about 2.0 million tonne.
Global annual production of mustard seed is estimated to be around 40 million tonne. China, European Union, Canada and India are leading producer of mustard seed.