Farmers are shifting from oilseeds and pulses to more remunerative crops like cotton and maize this kharif season.
The area under oilseeds and pulses is likely to decline with prices ruling below minimum support prices in many mandis.
Farmers are agitating because their produce is not being lifted by government agencies and traders are also not buying ahead of the GST.
Low sowing is likely to rebalance the demand-supply situation in 2017-18 (July-June). India is dependent on imports for 55 per cent of its edible oils (14 million tonnes) and 25 per cent (5.5 million tonnes) of its pulses.
The area under cotton and