Oilseed farmers reap rich harvest on adequate rains

KOLKATA: With improved rains, especially in the southern parts of the country, indications are that even if there is no increase in oilseeds crop, there may not be a major fall in its production compared to last season. The hope emanates from the fact that oilseeds have been sown in 163.9 lakh hectare till August 15, 2008. Around this time in 2007, about 164.5 lakh hectare was brought under oilseeds cultivation.

The revival of monsoon in the last week of July and the first week of August in southern India has come as a relief to the country as far as oilseeds production is concerned in the current kharif season, said the president of Solvent Extractors��� Association of India (SEA), Ashok Sethia. Though the acreage under groundnut, sunflower and sesame seeds has decreased during this kharif season, higher acreage under soyabean has made up for this decline.

The progress of soybean sowing has remained satisfactory till now and covered 92.8 lakh hectare by August 15, 2008 compared to 86.03 lakh hectare during the same period last year.

The progress of oilseed sowing in the current kharif season is to gather pace in the next fortnight with monsoon not disappointing much so far. However, there is an apprehension in the industry that delayed sowing may have some adverse impact on crop yield, the SEA informed.