- Oilseed cropMustard
Mustard seeds are yellowish colored, small seeds that are used as a spice in many countries. These seeds are obtained from bush like mustard plant that belongs to the genus Brassica that also include vegetables like cabbage and turnips.
Rape/Mustard has been an important crop to India for a long period of time. At an average India produces around 5 million tones of rape/mustard annually. It stands at the 3rd position in the list of rape/mustard producing countries contributing around 11 of the world's total production. Also it is the third largest producer of mustard/ rape oil in the world. Rajasthan is the leading mustard/rape producing state in India.
Mustard oil is consumed wholly in the domestic market. The demand for the consumption of mustard/rape seed comes mainly from eastern and northern areas of the country. The arrival of this crop in the markets is in its peak period during March to May. The major centers of consumption of its oil are Kolkata, Bihar, Jharkhand and the northeastern areas like Assam, Tripura, Sikkim etc. Two forms of mustard oil are traded in the Indian market namely Kacchi Ghani and Pakki Ghani (expeller oil). This industry constitutes the small-scale sector that markets the oil in loose form to about 80% and the rest contribution is made by the organized sector.
India does not imports or exports rape/mustard seeds. It was not into imports of rape/mustard oil also but now it has started importing it due to a fall in production of oil and oil seeds. The oil is not exported, as it does not match with the international quality standards. India is an exporter of mustard/rape oil cake and exports around 4 lakh tons of cake annually. The countries that import rape/mustard oil cake from India