In what could be a partial relief for edible oil processors, India’s rape/mustard seed output is likely to rise by 10 per cent this year on favourable climate supported by intermittent off-season rainfalls. A survey conducted by the apex trade body Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) estimates rape/mustard seed output at 7.59 million tonnes this year compared to 6.85 million tonnes last year.
Rape/mustard seed is a 100 per cent rabi season oilseed crop sown in October-November and harvested in the February-March period.
The estimated rise in rapeseed output was contributed by a six per cent increase in acreage and a 4.5 per cent spurt in yield, respectively.
The survey estimates total sowing area at 7.1 million hectares this year, compared to 6.7 million hectares last year. Yield, meanwhile, is forecast to increase to 1,065 kg a hectare this year versus 1,019 kg a hectare last year.
This will provide a small relief to Indian economy as with around 40 per cent oil content in seed and assuming all additional output would be made available for oil crushing, India will have at least 280,000 tonnes of more mustard oil available. This goes in favour of India’s economy as well as proportionate quantity of import will be reduced. India meets with around 55 per cent of vegetable oil consumption to the tune of around 18 million tonnes through imports.
