India is the largest producer, consumer and importer of oilseeds in the world. Oilseeds are mostly grown with rainfed conditions in marginal to sub-marginal lands. Total production of oilseeds is 31 million tons. Our demand outstrips domestic production, resultantly, importing oil becomes an annual feature in India. Out of total vegetable oil demand of 24 million tons, 14-15 million ton oil is imported and we could produce only 9-10 million tons. But success of oilseeds production is largely dependent upon the monsoon climate. In this backdrop, I am tossing up following issues to be addressed with probable solutions/ interventions for strategizing the production and productivity of oilseeds:
- How can development and adoption of drought tolerant varieties come as rescue to the existing problem of oilseeds?
- How can the production of oilseeds be sustained under moisture limiting/excess conditions, since crop is predominantly raised under rainfed conditions?. How can we safeguard the standing oilseed crop in field through supplemental irrigation ?.
- Why have the past attempts on adoption of resource conservation techniques such as raised- bed planting, drip irrigation and mulching , been failing so consistently?.
- Whether, you foresee a better promise with growing two or more crops together from farmers income perspective and standout against fragility of rainfed farming.
- What promise, the application of micronutrients and biofertilizers hold in the entire gamut of management strategies in production of oilseeds?
- What are the other secondary sources which could be tapped for supplementing huge demand.
- Can we become self sufficient in oil seeds production and what should be the strategy to reduce import?
I shall regard your responses.
The obvious is to store the moisture so it can be used later.
Have you heard of the keyline plan? (Think from 1930s) It involves the construction of dams and drains on a contour and the lowtech use of canvas as a temporary block of the drains. The water overflows and flood irrigates a field down to the next drain. Excess water then is carried back to the next dam so as to not waste the water. Gently sloping land is best.
Promotion of oil seed production under rice-fallow of eastern India.
Promoting oil seeds production as intercrop in plantation crops (arecanut and coconut) of west coast India
The effect of bio fertilizer depends on soil moisture availability, so, irrigation at critical stages will sustain the crop productivity and improves soil fertility.
Postponing leaf senescence for couple of days and utilize the same time in translocating the food reserve from source to sink could increase productivity per unit area through agronomic or genetically. Since oilseeds are borne to leaf fall that may be postponed.
Good suggestion Pramesh, is it in practice? . If yes how much area is under intercropping of oil seeds in coconut and arecanut. Further what are potential areas where through intercropping area under oil seed could be extended.
Suresh K Malhotra Dear Sir, it is in very small area and restricted to groundnut cultivation
Technological interventions in the management of crops vary between rainfed and irrigated conditions. For instance, in rainfed conditions, adoption of short duration, indeterminate and drought tolerant varieties with high water use efficiency which can complete their life cycle even under prevailing drought conditions, becomes need of the hour. Indeterminate growth habit acts as compensatory mechanism to the yield loss due to moisture deficit. Agronomic manipulations may involve contingent crop plan, foliar spray of thiourea or potassium nitrate at standardised rates which enhance drought tolerance. On the other hand, in irrigated conditions, dwarf, determinate, short duration and insect- pest/ disease resistant crop varieties may prove propitious. Agronomic practices like foliar application of growth retardants like mepiquat chloride and thidiazuron or nipping can be investigated with an objective to decrease vegetative growth and better translocation of assimilates towards developing siliqua.
Promoting oilseed crops as intercrop in autumn planted sugarcane in subtropical India. Mustard and linseed can be grown successfully in sugarcane based intercropping system. Sub soiling may be another factor for better rhizospheric environment particularly for deep rooted oilseed crops. This technique may be more effective for rainfed situation or limited water condition. This technique will facilitate deep penetration of roots and ultimately avoid lodging also.
Promoting oilseeds as an inter crop in vegetable farming by better utilization of spatial arrangement will increase the production of oilseeds as well as vegetable for nutritional and oilseeds self sufficiency in the country.
Adopting moisture conservation practices in rainfed agriculture
It is imperative to expand and promote legumes/oilseeds-based energy efficient system along with the popularization of NT especially for winter crops in rice fallows areas
Thanks colleagues for good input. Basically these oilseed crops are from arid to semi arid ecosystem and grow with less water requirements and it is challenging to get high production under arid/semi arid conditions where soils are of low fertility level.
By using intercropping in oilseed crops both the conditions received more returns
Oilseed crop mostly grown on marginal and between intercrop so balance fertility could not achieved
Good reply but how we can increase adoption of drought tolerant varieties to come as rescue to the existing problem of oilseeds?
Edible oil demand is huge. It is 25 million ton for India and 14.5 million ton of demand is met through imports. Government will soon start a new National Mission for Edible Oils. The speciality is that new mission will receive focus on both primary sources as well as secondary sources.
we can increase adoption of drought tolerant varieties to come as rescue to the existing problem of oil seeds by plant breeding programs selection and hybridization between introduction lines.
A agree with you Mr. Swaminathan and Attia. From current season a separate Mustard mission started
Thank you Barbara for valuable input. I agree with you, if drought tolerant mustard varieties are made available to farmers, the coverage will increase and production will be enhanced.
Kindly check http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/te_1468_web.pdf
Also check https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-015-0875-1
Oil seed crops are best suited crops for arid and semiarid ecosystem. Dear Mr. Chinaza, thank you for sending excellent publications for arid agriculture.
Mr. Robin rightly mentioned that we need to have drought resistant varieties for cultivation during rainfed season. Apart from introduction of tolerant varieties, better crop management practices for soil and water conservation, application of micronutrients and addition of soil amendments in acid soil could increase yield to 20-30%.
Rainfed ecosystem where farmers grow them, has several challenges for oilseeds
Well said Dr Malhotra , borers are still a formidable challenge , apart from conventionally observed low input use efficiency...
You are right Barbara, Govt of India started a special mission program on edible oils. The first step was to start breeder seed production of new high yielding varieties and seed hub program for certified seed production. Farmers were made available good quality seeds of oil seeds and production in 4 years has enhanced from 27 million ton to 36 million ton. Single intervention gave wonderful results.
India has huge requirement of edible oils, every year about 14 million ton is imported to fulfil demand. In addition to annual primary oil seeds mustard, soyabean, groundnut, sesame, sunflower etc., production, the emphasis is needed on oil palm production as well as rice bran oil and cotton seed oil to increase edible production from all sources.
The strategy should be that from same area of 25 million ha, production should be increased through increase in adoption of new high yielding varieties, dedicated seed multiplication programs for these varieties with high oil content, better production and protection management. The new missions started by Govt of India has focus on these all aspects. As a result production has increased from 31 million ton of oilseeds to 36 million ton in 3 years and it has provided additional edible oil of about 1.25 million ton.
I am happy to share that mission approach being implemented by Govt has started yielding results. Our production of oil seeds has increased to 36 million ton. It is encouraging and possible to increase production and reduce import of edible oils.
Increasing production and productivity is a challenge before authorities. Do the solution lies with GM varieties ?. Should deficient countries go for GM varieties production? Will it solve the problem?
It is a challenge in rainfed. However recently rapeseed and mustard yielded high production of 104 lakh ton as compared to last year and it was productivity based from 1500 kg to 1900 kg/ha. The specific package introduction of drought tolerant high yielding varieties sown on broad bed and furrow method.
@ Swaminathan, thanks for response. Oilseeds is priority of country. The target set for current year are 38 million ton, with rabi production these will be definitely achieved.
Oilseeds and oilpalm production started in mission mode to narrow the production and consumption gap.
Please see this.
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/agriculture/improving-india-s-oilseeds-production-55366
The Oilseeds sector has been one of the most dynamic components of world agriculture in the past three decades growing at 4.1% per annum surpassing the growth of agriculture and live stock products. The performance of oilseeds on the domestic front during the last two decades has been commendable braving the vagaries of weather conditions, the global price aberrations and the ever increasing domestic demand
Nice feedback , Dr Malhotra. ..
Is there any possibility of biofortified pulses or oilseed crop ?
Anoop@ there are tremendous possibilities. Several biofortified varieties of pulses and oil seeds are available. High protein and essential amino acid rich varieties of pulses and oil seeds are available. Oil super rich and high protein nutrient dense groundnut, high protein and fiber soy varieties are available.
@Haseeb, thanks. Govt of India has started Targetting Rice Fallow Area (TRFA) program in Eastern and southern states to utilize fallow land after paddy harvesting for growing oilseeds and pulses.
For cultivation of oilseeds, district wise planning has been done under new revamped National Mission for Edible Oils. Rapeseed and mustard is success story
Interesting question .... follow for more valuable responses
In case of rainfed, better to have Groundnut crop, that too Kadiri Lepakshi Variety performing extremely well and giving very good yield. Yields upto 25-30 Quintals per hectare
Oilseed crops are cultivated largely under rain-fed conditions and due to erratic rainfall the crops suffer from moisture stress at different growth stages resulting in low yields. The production of oilseed can therefore be stabilized and significantly increased by extending irrigation facilities to oilseed. Oilseedcrops are cultivated largely under rain-fed conditions and due to erratic rainfall the crops suffer from moisture stress at different growth stages resulting in low yields. The production of oilseedcan therefore be stabilized and significantly increased by extending irrigation facilities to oilseed. The water requirement of oilseed in general is low and the crop responds remarkably to limited irrigation facilities provided at critical growth periods, specifically at sowing, flowering, and seed/pod formation. So, wherever it becomes possible, irrigation facilities are required to be extended. Contrary to this, where it is not possible to create irrigation facilities, moisture conservation practices should be followed. Moreover, Application of biofertilizers, as a nutrient supplement, resulted in 9, 24 and 40% seed yield increase in sunflower, safflower and niger. Under irrigated conditions, this technology gave seed/pod yield increase to the tune of 44% for groundnut and 6% for rapeseed-mustard. Good agronomic practices such as land levelling, seed treatments, good drainage facilities with proper weed and pest management practices should be chosen and practiced.
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