The country’s mustard production may rise this year and surpass yearly demand for the first time since the nation became reliant on imports of edible oil due to a higher area and anticipated productivity growth. If the weather holds favorable for the next month, production might reach over 125 lakh tonnes (lt), an increase of more than 6% from last year.
“The crop is doing well so far, and there are no reports of any significant pest attacks from anywhere. Everywhere flowering is over, and in areas where the crop was sown early, flowering is finished at the pod development stage. PK Rai, director of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) Directorate of Rapeseed Mustard Research (DRMR), situated in Bharatpur, expressed optimism that the first crop would begin to arrive in the first week of the next month (ICAR). Under the present circumstances, he stated, at least 125 lt of production can be anticipated.
Production of mustard increased by 29% to 117.46 lt from 91.24 lt over the past two years. The sowing area increased by 17% to 80.58 lakh hectares (lh) in 2021–2022 from 68.56 lh in 2019–20, while productivity increased by 10% to 1,458 kg/ha from 1,331 kg. About 120 is thought to be the yearly mustard demand.
The area planted with mustard and toria during the current rabi sowing season has expanded by 9% to 94.22 lh by December 30. However, the final data reconciliation may show that the area is slightly lower. Still, according to official sources, if a further 10 lh of land is planted with mustard this year, the production might rise by 15 lt.
The country’s largest producer of mustard, Rajasthan, reported 38.52 lh as of December 30, which is 5 lh more than a year ago. Rajasthan accounts for approximately 50% of the nation’s total production of oilseed grown in the Rabi season.
