Ambala farmers opt for oilseeds despite drop in yield last year

Despite a drop in yield last year due to poor weather, Ambala farmers continue to evince interest in oilseed crops, with nearly 9,000 hectares covered under oilseeds (mustard and toriya) in the rabi sowing season this year.

The farmers said mustard allowed them to go for three crops (paddy, mustard and sunflower) instead of two crops (wheat and paddy).

However, difficulties in selling the crop continues to be a major concern for oilseed farmers. Last year, the farmers had suffered yield loss due to hailstorm and unwanted rains.

Malkeet Singh, a mustard farmer, said, “I have cultivated mustard crop in 4 acres this year against 2 acres last year. Mustard gets good response even in private trade, though the traders offer Rs 1,000 to 1,500 less than the MSP. But the crop is sold easily. Last year, the farmers who had cultivated mustard were not able to register sunflower crop on the MFMB portal. The farmers want to adopt oilseed crops but in the absence of assured government purchase, they hesitate. If the government starts procurement of entire crop, with no capping, the farmers will increase their oilseed area.”

Manpreet Singh, another farmer, stated, “Last year, I suffered a loss in oilseed crops due to poor yield and lower demand in private trade, but still I have cultivated toriya and mustard in 8 acres. After mustard, I will grow sunflower, too. The government should ensure timely procurement of the mustard crop so that we don’t have to bear losses by selling produce in the open market.”

Meanwhile, some farmers have reduced their area in mustard after suffering losses in the previous season. Sukhvinder Singh of Jalbera village, said, “I have reduced my area under mustard to 5 acres from 11 acres because of yield loss and poor procurement arrangements. The farmers are forced to wait for long for the procurement agency to enter the market with the matured crop. The government should improve its procurement process if it wants to see a significant increase in oilseed area."

However, there are some cases where the farmers have cultivated mustard but they don’t want to get their crop registered on the portal because they may not be able to register their sunflower crop for government purchase later.

Deputy Director Agriculture Jasvinder Saini said, “Farmers from Saha, Naraingarh and Shahzadpur areas have shown a good interest in cultivating oilseed crops and nearly 9,000-hectare land is under mustard this year. Mustard requires less fertiliser and has lower risk than wheat crop. It also allows farmers to take three crops in a year. Some oilseed farmers have raised concerns regarding procurement and portal, we will apprise the higher authorities so that the issues can be resolved.”