Mustard acreage slumps in Rajasthan
Lack of rainfall is likely to bring down the mustard production considerably in Rajasthan and the state may not achieve its target of 27 lakh hectares sowing area for the current rabi season.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Lack of rainfall is likely to bring down the mustard production considerably in Rajasthan and the state may not achieve its target of 27 lakh hectares sowing area for the current rabi season.
According to the sowing data released today by the Central Organisation for Oil Industry and Trade (COOIT), the acreage under mustard in Rajasthan declined by 39 per cent to 16.27 lakh hectares this year from 26.75 lakh hectares in the year-ago season (October-January).
There were also fears that an attractive minimum support price (MSP) for wheat would woo farmers away from sowing oilseed crops in Rajasthan, a key mustard growing state.
Although, a large number of farmers have preferred sowing mustard crop in the state, the sowing area and production are set to plunge due to adverse weather conditions.
"There does not seem to be a significant shift to wheat from mustard in the state as was being feared, because of increase in MSP of wheat," COOIT said.
Even though there has not been a major shift to wheat, the state may not achieve the target of 27 lakh hectares of sowing area this year because of the adverse conditions," it said.
"Shortage of rain in the major mustard growing areas has hit sowing badly. As a result, the acreage has dipped in the range of 10-15 per cent." Dr Arvind Kumar, Director at Bharatpur-based National Research Centre for Rapeseed, said.
Although increased wheat MSP has not affected oilseed sowing majorly, shortfall in rains is a serious concern and crop is likely to be affected, Kumar added.
According to the sowing data released today by the Central Organisation for Oil Industry and Trade (COOIT), the acreage under mustard in Rajasthan declined by 39 per cent to 16.27 lakh hectares this year from 26.75 lakh hectares in the year-ago season (October-January).
There were also fears that an attractive minimum support price (MSP) for wheat would woo farmers away from sowing oilseed crops in Rajasthan, a key mustard growing state.
Although, a large number of farmers have preferred sowing mustard crop in the state, the sowing area and production are set to plunge due to adverse weather conditions.
"There does not seem to be a significant shift to wheat from mustard in the state as was being feared, because of increase in MSP of wheat," COOIT said.
Even though there has not been a major shift to wheat, the state may not achieve the target of 27 lakh hectares of sowing area this year because of the adverse conditions," it said.
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"Shortage of rain in the major mustard growing areas has hit sowing badly. As a result, the acreage has dipped in the range of 10-15 per cent." Dr Arvind Kumar, Director at Bharatpur-based National Research Centre for Rapeseed, said.
Although increased wheat MSP has not affected oilseed sowing majorly, shortfall in rains is a serious concern and crop is likely to be affected, Kumar added.
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