India’s mustard farmers, millers in distress over low prices

Express News Service

NEW DELHI:  After manufacturing loss in mustard crops ensuing from inclement local weather in February and March, farmers in the meanwhile are coping with low market prices for his or her produce. The mustard crop wholesale worth is strategy beneath the minimal help worth (MSP) of Rs 5,450 per quintal.

The cheaper import of palm oil, soy oil and sunflower oil and the worth disparity are two important causes behind it.

Mukesh Kumar Yadav, a farmer from the Alwar district of Rajasthan, held his mustard crop at residence ensuing from lower prices.

“I have already suffered production loss of up to 30 per cent due to inclement weather,” Yadav knowledgeable to this newspaper.

In his Chandigarh Ahir village, some villagers purchased off at lower prices as they wished cash.  “Once the price goes up, many of us would sell to compensate our loss. Last year, I sold mustard at Rs 7,000 per quintal,” he offers.

Mustard constitutes India’s one-fourth of full edible oil manufacturing and consumption. Alwar and Bharatpur districts are the nation’s largest producers of mustard crops. Rajasthan tops in the case of full area (41 per cent) and full mustard manufacturing (45 per cent), adopted by Haryana, MP and UP. 

“Around 50 per cent of mustard oil mills have closed down in Rajasthan due to crushing price disparity in oil and oil cake,” says Manoj Shukla of Agriworld, an oilseed commodity analyst based out of Mumbai.

“Oil price is higher while oil cake is lower and due to which millers incur a loss of up Rs 3,000 per tonne. So, these oil millers chose not to buy it until government take steps in controlling cheaper imports,” says Shukla.

According to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, in March 2023 import of vegetable oils was up by 8 per cent compared with February 2023.

Palm Oil imports are up by 24 per cent to 7.28 lakh tons from 5.86 lakh tons. In January, Sunflower oil imports surged to 4.61 lakh tons, virtually triple the everyday month-to-month imports.

NEW DELHI:  After manufacturing loss in mustard crops ensuing from inclement local weather in February and March, farmers in the meanwhile are coping with low market prices for his or her produce. The mustard crop wholesale worth is strategy beneath the minimal help worth (MSP) of Rs 5,450 per quintal.

The cheaper import of palm oil, soy oil and sunflower oil and the worth disparity are two important causes behind it.

Mukesh Kumar Yadav, a farmer from the Alwar district of Rajasthan, held his mustard crop at residence ensuing from lower prices.googletag.cmd.push(carry out() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

“I have already suffered production loss of up to 30 per cent due to inclement weather,” Yadav knowledgeable to this newspaper.

In his Chandigarh Ahir village, some villagers purchased off at lower prices as they wished cash.  “Once the price goes up, many of us would sell to compensate our loss. Last year, I sold mustard at Rs 7,000 per quintal,” he offers.

Mustard constitutes India’s one-fourth of full edible oil manufacturing and consumption. Alwar and Bharatpur districts are the nation’s largest producers of mustard crops. Rajasthan tops in the case of full area (41 per cent) and full mustard manufacturing (45 per cent), adopted by Haryana, MP and UP. 

“Around 50 per cent of mustard oil mills have closed down in Rajasthan due to crushing price disparity in oil and oil cake,” says Manoj Shukla of Agriworld, an oilseed commodity analyst based out of Mumbai.

“Oil price is higher while oil cake is lower and due to which millers incur a loss of up Rs 3,000 per tonne. So, these oil millers chose not to buy it until government take steps in controlling cheaper imports,” says Shukla.

According to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, in March 2023 import of vegetable oils was up by 8 per cent compared with February 2023.

Palm Oil imports are up by 24 per cent to 7.28 lakh tons from 5.86 lakh tons. In January, Sunflower oil imports surged to 4.61 lakh tons, virtually triple the everyday month-to-month imports.