Rajasthan may increase mustard acreage target

Rajasthan may exceed its 2007-08 mustard acreage target of 3 million hectare, said Prabhulal Saini, the state's agriculture minister.

"Sowing is expected to start in a few days and this year we are hopeful of sowing mustard in about 3.2 million hectare against the target of 3 million hectare," said Saini.

Sowing of the oilseed in the desert state takes place October-November.

In the last crop season, mustard was sown in an area of 2.7-2.9 million hectare on which a production of around 2.75-3.25 million hectare was estimated.

The minister said Rajasthan was hopeful of achieving the target despite scanty monsoon rainfall in many areas such as Bharatpur.

Bharatpur along with Tonk, Alwar, Kota, Sawai Madhopur and some areas of northern Rajasthan comprise the state's mustard belt, contributing over 80 per cent of the state's production. The desert state is the country's largest producer contributing about 40 per cent of country's total mustard production.

During 2005-06, mustard production in Rajasthan was estimated at between 3.0 and 3.5 million tonnes.

Saini said there was ample moisture in the soil that is expected to help sowing this season, while two-three spells of winter rains would yield a bumper harvest.

"We have made elaborate arrangements for fertilisers for the winter crop and if the Centre provides proper help, there would not be any fertiliser shortage in the state," he said.

"This time, we have already arranged for 350,000 metric tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate for farmers cultivating rabi or winter crops in the state, which is more than double last year's figure of 140,000 metric tonnes," the state agriculture minister said.