The Hindu Business Line : Higher groundnut crop may boost kharif oilseed output

A HIGHER groundnut crop is likely to help prop up kharif oilseed production to 119 lakh tonnes in the next season (2005-06) against 115.60 lakh tonnes in 2004-05.

According to an estimate by Mr G.G. Patel, a leading Rajkot-based oilseeds trader and former chairman of the Central Organisation for Oil Industry and Trade, the groundnut crop is likely to increase to 54.50 lakh tonnes for 2005-06 season from 44.50 lakh tonnes in the last season mainly on higher output in Gujarat and the southern region. Mr Patel was speaking at the two days' international event on vegetable oils and related products — Globoil India 2005.

In Gujarat, groundnut crop may go up to 20 lakh tonnes from 15 lakh tonnes last season. In the South toothe crop is expected to be better than the previous year.

As reported by the Government, the sowing area for groundnut had reduced by 4 per cent. For soyabean, sesame and sunflower, it had reduced by 5 per cent, he said.

"This year, the onset of monsoon was delayed in most of the States. Over and above this, within the States also, the sowing had taken place at a different time at intervals of 2-3 weeks. The first round of rain in most of the States was satisfactory. But the rain, which was required in the third and fourth week of August, did not come in time. It was delayed and it did rain but late by around 10-15 days. This may affect yields of the crop," Mr Patel said.

On soyabean crop, he said, the area had decreased. The onset of monsoon was delayed and there was moisture stress at the end of August. This will affect the yields per hectare. Total soyabean crop is estimated at 55 lakh tonnes against 58.5 lakh tonnes last season. Similarly, sunflower crop is estimated at 4 lakh tonnes against 4.90 lakh tonnes.

Mr Patel said, "We may be having huge carry-in stock of rapeseed up to 33 lakh tonnes in the next oil year compared with 15 lakh tonnes in the previous oil year. We may be having carry-in stock of soyabean up to 3-5 lakh tonnes. This will augment the availability of edible oils in the next season and ultimately, our import requirement may be less than the current season assuming the same Rabi crops."

He expected total imports of edible oils at 47.30 lakh tonnes for season 2005-06, down from 51.99 lakh tonnes for season 2004-05.

The country's total edible oils' production during the season 2005-06 are likely to increase to 65 lakh tonnes, up from 54.41 lakh tonnes in 2004-05 and 58.54 lakh tonnes in 2003-04. Total consumption of edible oils is also likely to increase to 111.30 lakh tonnes from 107.20 lakh tonnes in 2004-05 and 103.30 lakh tonnes in 2003-04, he said.

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