Oilseed Mission Part 2: Mission Mustard -2 - Time to Explore Power of Partnership

Oilseed Mission Part 1

Mission Mustard: "Time to Explore Power of Partnership"

Rapeseed and Mustard are produced and consumed in many parts of the world.

India is the 3rd largest producer of Rapeseed and Mustard.

 About 10 countries produce more than 90% of global production.

Rising Import of edible oils in India is a growing concern.

 Global trade of Rapeseed and Mustard :

India's comparison with respect to other countries in rapeseed and mustard crops:

Please note: Rapeseed '00' Variety, which I was managing,  gave more average yield in Punjab than what is there in Canada. Indian farmers are able to get a better average yield.

Comparative analysis of major rapeseed and mustard producing states of India:

The area under Rapeseed-Mustard crops fluctuating in absence of any clear policy direction -

Net returns for the farmers in Rapeseed and Mustard is also lower than alternate crops -

MSP declared to farmers of Rapeseed and Mustard is also not very attractive for them due to low yield per unit area:

Suggestions for How to change the ground reality for better Rapeseed and Mustard production in India? 

1. There is a need to give focus Good Agriculture Practices(GAP). This will improve yield by 40 to 70%. 

 2. All the learnings of Field Trials should be documented and shared with local mustard industry and farmers to inspire confidence on the recommendations.

 3. Seed replacement should be closely monitored so that poor quality seeds should not be offered to the farmers. 

4. Edible oils with low saturated fats will gain more attention from consumers. Rapeseed and Mustard are ideally suitable for the health needs of the consumers.

5. Seeds with higher oil content will help in better price realization and will attract more area under RM seeds.

6. Global experiments also highlight that low erucic acid can help in increase in high oil content in RM seeds. 

 7. Erucic acid is not demanded by consumers but the sensory property due to pungency is having a positive impact on the acceptability of mustard oil. 

The Seed Research focus should be to explore suitable combination to meet consumers need of aroma and the taste of mustard and also farmers need of high oil yielding crops with high seed yield.

Important: Existing vast genetic biodiversity should be explored, within the legal framework, to identify the suitable combination of traits, till GM technology is not accepted by society.

Our research priority must be defined by the market needs of both - RM seeds and products from the RM seed.

Breeding Technologies are fast evolving. We must develop reliable and non-controversial methods of testing the safety aspects of these new technologies. Research spending on the development of safety assessment systems is much less than breeding systems.

Till be finalise the well-accepted safety protocols, our existing methods can increase productivity by 55 to 75%. This must be the basis for "Mission Mustard".

The government must develop a National Plan for "Mission Mustard" and Value chain partners must be involved to meet the targets.

The economic benefit to the country from Mission Mustard will be - 
1. Reduced dependency on imported oils and better income for the farmers.

 2. Better income will help in crop diversification from crops exploiting natural resources.

The industry is also ready to partner with policymakers and research scientists in taking their technology from "the Lab. to Land".
The government must create a Stakeholders Action Group and create an enabling environment.

Upcoming Mustard Season should be used to initiate this process with seriousness to meet national objectives.

Edible Oil Adulteration is the biggest risk in the oilseed development agenda.

Adulteration is Mustard oil is the biggest risk factory. FSSAI and AGMARK must address this serious economic fraud and health hazard.