The crop size of nine major oilseeds of the rabi season has decreased by slightly over 20 per cent to 161.3 lakh tonnes from 202.4 lakh tonnes from last year.
Overall vegetable oil availability also decreased by 17.6 per cent to 55.4 lakh tonnes from 67.2 lakh tonnes from last year, according to Solvent Extractors Association of India.
These were trade estimates of production and marketable surplus of rabi oilseeds and the availability of vegetable oils during the oil year 2002-03 which were agreed upon at the 24th All India Seminar on Oilseeds & Oil Trade and Industry held recently at Jaipur.
The rapeseed and mustard crop would slump to 41.5 lakh tonnes from 47 lakh tonnes last year, down by 11.7 per cent.
Including toria, the total crop is estimated at 43 lakh tonnes against last year
