GoI targets 17 million tonnes of Mustard Production

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare recently announced that it is to bring nine million tonnes of land under mustard cultivation. This will increase mustard production to 17 million tonnes by 2025-26.

Current Scenario

The average mustard production in India, that is, the mustard production between 2015 and 2019 was 7.7 million tonnes. This was produced from 5.9 million hectares of land.

What is the issue?

India imports around 70% of edible oil needs. Of this, Palm oil is the highest. There is a need to make India self-sufficient in oil. In order to achieve this, the GoI is planning to increase oil seed production. However, the problem is the low productivity, that is, mustards produced per hectare is low.

Currently, Rajasthan produces 40.82% of total mustards in India. It is the highest mustard producing state in the country.

What is the plan?

In order to achieve the target, the GoI is planning to target 7.58 million hectares for the year 2021-22. Around 12.24 million tonnes are to be produced from these lands.

In 2020, the GoI targeted 368 districts from 13 states for mustard cultivation. This was done under Mustard Mission. In 2020, the GoI spent Rs 160 crores on mustard mission. This is to be continued for the current fiscal year as well.

In order to increase the productivity, the GoI has planned to use mustard seeds of high quality. This will increase the yield from 20% to 100%.

Achievement of Yellow Revolution

In 1986, the then PM Rajiv Gandhi launched the Yellow Revolution. It was based on Oilseeds Technology Mission. It was a big success. By 1993, India became self-sufficient in edible oil production. Through Yellow revolution India produced 97% of edible oil requirement within the country.

Sam Pitroda is called the “Father of Yellow Revolution”. It focused on nine oilseeds. They were mustard, groundnut, soybean, sesame, safflower, niger, sunflower, Castor and linseed.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2021