Kharif oilseed production will see a divergent trend this year.

The production of oilseeds with high oil content, such as groundnut and sunflower, would see a drop, while that of low oil content – soyabean – is expected to see a rise.

The decline in groundnut and sunflower could largely be attributed to the drop in acreage, as scanty rain during June-July hit the planting and standing crop, especially in Gujarat.

“The groundnut output would be down by at least a million tonnes this year at around 32-33 lakh tonnes,” said B.V. Mehta, Executive Director of Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEAI).

The oil recovery is 40 per cent in groundnut and 35 per cent in sunflower, but lower at 17 per cent in soyabean.

Last year, the country produced around 42 lakh tonnes of groundnut, according to trade estimates.

However, the Government’s fourth advance estimates released in mid-July suggest that the groundnut output stood at 50.97 million tonnes.

state-wise scenario

The potential drop in groundnut output this year could largely be attributed to the decline in acreage mainly in Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

The Government data reveal that the acreage was down in Gujarat at 11.87 lakh hectares (lh), as of September 13, against 14.33 lh in the corresponding period last year.

In Karnataka, the acreage was down to 3.76 lh (5.18 lh), Rajasthan at 3.68 lh (4.24 lh) and Tamil Nadu 1.73 lh (2.02 lh).

However, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have registered a marginal increase in acreage at 10.33 lh (10.18 lh) and 2.25 lh (2.18 lh), respectively.

In Gujarat, groundnut coverage has been only 75 per cent of normal, while castor coverage is 84 per cent of normal. Sesamum sowing is just 27 per cent of the usual coverage.

Mehta said the acreage in Gujarat would be lower by about 3 lh over the Government’s estimates, as standing crop in the key growing region of Saurashtra had dried up in June-July due to lack of rains.

The decline in groundnut and sunflower could be compensated by rape/mustard seed in the ensuing rabi season, as the late revival of monsoon has helped improve soil moisture levels.

“The overall oilseed output at the end of 2012-13 season could be the same as that of last year,” Mehta said.

Soyabean output

However, production of soyabean could possibly touch a new high as farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, buoyed by returns last year, have planted the oilseed in a record area.

With steep rise in sowing of kharif crops in Madhya Pradesh, production of kharif crops in the State is expected to increase 15-20 per cent compared with its production last year. According to assessment done by Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Development, the area under kharif crops in Madhya Pradesh has increased by 1.55 lh to 116.25 lh .

Rise in kharif crops acerage has been mainly due to timely availability of seeds, fertiliser, pesticide and other inputs to farmers.

Though monsoon in the State arrived late, plenty of rains in the months of August and September have bolstered prospect of kharif crops.

With soyabean fetching higher prices this year, the soyabean acerage this year in the State has increased with a large number offarmers switching over from cotton farming.

“The crop this year is likely to be same or better than last year,” said Rajesh Agrawal, spokesperson for Soyabean Oil Processors Association (SOPA).

Soyabean output last year stood at 115 lakh tonne.

SOPA will announce its crop estimates on September 29, and the harvest next week.

Soyabean prices had more than doubled in the past year on global cues on concerns that drought will trim the US crop.

But the prices have eased a bit on signs of better yields in the US and improving crop prospects in Brazil.

Vishwanath.kulkarni@thehindu.co.in

(with inputs from our Rajkot and Indore Correspondents)

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