The acreage under mustard was up 4% on year at 8.46 million hectare (Mha) by mid-December. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and West Bengal have shown significant expansion in crop area in the current rabi season (2025-26), according to a report released on Wednesday.
Regional Growth
While most of the crops are either in the branching-to-flowering or pod formation stage, overall condition of standing crops is normal across all major growing states. Sucking pest incidence remains below economic threshold levels, the third report of the mustard crop by the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) said.
Sowing activities are at the last leg. Total rabi sown area in 2024-25 was 8.62 Mha.
“Crop conditions are better than last year and there are no reports of pests. If current weather conditions continue like this, the yield is expected to be higher,”Roop Singh, CEO, Uttan Mustard Producers Company, a FPO based in Astavan village, of Bharatpur, Rajasthan told FE.
According to officials, if the weather holds good for the next two months, the mustard production is likely to be higher than the previous year. This may give a boost to edible oil production thus reducing imports prospects
Yield Outlook
The agriculture ministry has estimated mustard seed production at 12.64 million tonnes (MT) in the 2024-25 crop year (July-June).
The SEA report stated that mustard crops currently are at branching to flowering or pod formation stage, with early-sown fields progressing to pod development/seed formation. Mustard, a key oilseed crop, is sown from October to November, while harvesting is carried out during February to March.
Crop conditions in Rajasthan, the biggest producer of oilseed variety, have been normal so far. However part of the standing crop was re-sown following excess rainfall in September and october.
However, mustard sown area till middle of December was 3.4 Mha, marginally higher than the same period last year while total sown area 2023-24 rabi season was 3.49 Mha
In Uttar Pradesh, the sowing is progressing well despite unseasonal rainfall in October that affected germination in some districts. Acreage under mustard so far in the state has been 1.35 Mha, an increase of 6.5% on year.
According to the agriculture ministry, area under mustard in the current rabi season so far has been reported at 8.4 million hectare (MH) which is 6.3% higher than last five years’ average sown area of 7.9 MH.
Rajasthan (40%), Madhya Pradesh (14%), Uttar Pradesh (9%) and Haryana (7%), have 70% share in the country’s mustard seed production.
India imports about 57% of the total annual edible oil consumption of around 24 to 25 MT. Share of domestic edible oil includes mustard (40%), soyabean (24%) and groundnut (7%) and others.