The revival in monsoon since last month is unlikely to undo the damage done to oilseeds, such as groundnut and sunflower, due to dry spells in the critical sowing period.

However, the current rain will brighten the prospects for the key rabi oilseed crop – mustard.

Trade sources estimate the groundnut output to decline by about a fourth to around 30 lakh tonnes (lt) this year against 42 lt last year.

“The situation is bad in Saurashtra and Rayalseema – the two key groundnut-growing regions – where the crop has been hit due to poor rain,” said B.V. Mehta, Executive Director, Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEAI).

The rain deficit in Saurashtra and Kutch stands at 65 per cent till date.

However, Rayalseema currently has a surplus of 10 per cent.

Sunflower acreage

“Even sunflower acreage has been hit due to drought in Karnataka. As a result, kharif oilseed output will be lower than last year,” Mehta said.

He expected groundnut output to be less than 30 lt, and said it was too early to comment on sunflower production as it was also grown in the rabi season.

The anticipated fall in groundnut output has already firmed up the prices of the oilseed.

The total kharif sunflower acreage is lower by about a third to 1.68 lakh hectares (lh) against 2.38 lh in the corresponding period last year.

But, sunflower is also grown in rabi season, which accounts for a large chunk of the output. Sunflower output in 2011-12 stood at 6.2 lt ( 6.55 lt) , according to SEAI.

Rabi prospects

Mehta said the pick-up in rain in the recent weeks has brightened rabi oilseed prospects on improved soil moisture and reservoir storage levels.

Rajasthan has witnessed flooding in several parts recently.

Rain deficit

The downpour in recent weeks has also reduced the rain deficit to 2 per cent in the metrological sub-division of west Rajasthan, while east Rajasthan has received a surplus of 7 per cent so far since June.

> vishwanath.kulkarni@thehindu.co.in

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