The Government expects higher oilseeds production in the country on good monsoon and an increase in the cultivation area of the crop.
"With a good monsoon this year, production of oilseeds is poised to increase. The land under cultivation during the current kharif season has increased by 3.7 per cent, compared to 2009," Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution K V Thomas said here.
The production of oilseeds in the country during the last five-years has been hovering at around 24-30 million tonnes, Thomas said, adding that, however, it is not keeping pace with demand.
The productivity had almost stagnated at around 1,000 kg per hectare during the last five years.
"The low production was due to the fact that 80 per cent of area under oilseeds cultivation is rain-fed. However, this year we expect a higher production," Thomas said.
The above-average monsoon this year would result in higher kharif production as well as rabi oilseeds production due to the resultant soil moisture for rabi crops, he added.
