Mustard production likely to top record 12 million tonnes in 2023-24
The production of mustard seeds is likely to touch an all-time high of 12 million tonnes (mt) in the 2023-24 season, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA). The association has released the details on the “mustard model farm” project, which was launched collectively by SEA and Solidaridad in 2020-21.
According to SEA, more than 3,500 model farms have been set up under the programme covering more than 1.25 lakh farmers in five states. A media statement said that India has witnessed a remarkable increase in mustard production year after year due to concerted efforts coupled with favourable weather and price of mustard seed.
Mustard seed production has gone up from around 8.6 mt in 2020-21, to 11 mt in 2021-22, and 11.35 mt in 2022-23. The area under cultivation has gone up from 6.70 million hectares (mh) in 2020-21 to 8.8 mh in 2022-23. The statement said the production of mustard is likely to touch an all-time high of 12 mt in the 2023-24 season with the sown area of around 10 mh, boosting the domestic supply of edible oils.
35% yield increase
Introduced in 400 model farms in five districts of Rajasthan in 2020-21, the project was expanded to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh with 500 more model farms in 2021-22. In 2022-23, the project was taken up in 1,234 farms in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) and Sangur (Punjab). In 2023-24, Varanasi and Karnataka were added to the list. More than 3,500 model farms have been set up so far in five States, it said.
According to SEA statement, there has been 35 per cent increase in the yield from model farms in the last five years. The average yield realised by model farms was 2414.8 kg per hectare. It was 1787.5 kg per hectare in control farms, it said.
The present rate of edible oil consumption in India surpasses the domestic production. At present, India meets nearly 60 per cent of its edible oil demand through imports. Per the latest SEA data, India imported 16.47 mt of edible oils valued at ₹1.38-lakh crore during the 2023-24 (November-October) season.
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