Towards oilseeds sufficiency -- Present and Way forward
It behoves all concerned to support oilseed farmers through remunerative prices coupled with incentives. This will lead to the adoption of improved varieties and associated production technologies to make India self-reliant in oilseeds production. Furthermore, commitment to research & extension services and long-term planning will add sustainability to the oilseed sector
Govt's decision to restrict imports of refined palm oil from January 2020 link, comes as a major boost for indigenous production of edible vegetable oils. To create a large space for Indian oilseeds, improvements suggested below should be implemented as quickly as possible.
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Honey bees for enhancing yield
Govt's decision to restrict imports of refined palm oil from January 2020 link, comes as a major boost for indigenous production of edible vegetable oils. To create a large space for Indian oilseeds, improvements suggested below should be implemented as quickly as possible.
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Honey bees for enhancing yield
Honey bees can improve seed formation & yields of oilseeds (eg. Sunflower, Mustard) through cross-pollination activities. A fair number of beehives can be supported in one hectare (eg 4-5 hives/ha). MSME ministry sees a looming surge in honey production through these activities and is promoting honey consumption in India in place of sugar. Value of additional yield from pollination services by honeybees alone is about 15-20 times more than the value of all hive products put together (Dr Kaloo, 2004) link
Micro-irrigation for enhancing yields and increasing gross cultivated area
Soil moisture can impact Mustard yields by up to 37.5%. Micro-irrigation conserves water and so increases the number of irrigations per crop and the possibility of a second crop.
Mechanization for enhancing yields and much higher profitability
Benefits will accrue in oilseed cultivation much like mechanisation has enhanced wheat and rice production. Small farmers are taking advantage of contract hirings for availing farm implements. Mechanisation makes effective and efficient use of labour and farm inputs, eg. disciplined sowing by seed drills or ridge makers-cum-planters has many yield benefits compared to "broadcast" seeding; eg. a compound harvester makes quick work of cropping, and collects and sorts crop waste.
Soil health card & Nutritional management for enhancing yields, sowing better varieties & costs
Soil health card (or soil analysis report) pins down the nutritional management that is appropriate for high-yielding or hybrid varieties of oilseeds. If required, farmers must supplement the major fertilizers (eg N, P, K) with secondary nutrients like S and micronutrients like Zn, Boron, Molybdenum. Yield increases of 10-25% are possible depending on the extent of the deficiency.
Hybrid seeds for enhancing yield and boosting production of sunflower, castor and Indian mustard
Field demonstrations have convincingly shown 30-40% higher yields from hybrid seeds (of some oilseeds), compared to "open-pollinated varieties". Thus, concerted efforts are needed to scale-up access & production of hybrid seeds and for expanding the area under hybrids:
Seed hubs
Healthy "seed replacement rate" is needed to sustain high yields. Despite much higher SRR in all states, old seed varieties are still present in the seeds supply chain. Access to good quality seeds, closeby, at the right time & quantity, is a major hindrance for farmers, so efforts should be made to:
1) Move towards certified seeds.
2) Good seed storage facilities (climate-controlled where necessary).
3) Private sector & Co-ops' involvement along with the public-sector (NSC & state SCs).
4) Seed plan for each state, for strengthening local access and other issues wrt breeder seeds.
Knowledge empowerment
Many farmers are still growing decades-old varieties and making little or no investments in crop management. In some cases, this is simply because the farmers do not have adequate information. Knowledge can be imparted by organizing training programs and field days. Farmer participatory trials or demonstrations may help to convince the farmers of the benefit of improved cultivars and production technologies. Distribution of small seed samples (2-5 kg) to a large number of farmers would help in the rapid adoption of new varieties.
Extension services enhance yield and rapid spread of recommended technologies
Extension services are public investments designed to instil behavioural change, and rapidly move farmers towards adopting the most appropriate high-yielding seeds and advanced technologies. A review should prove that money is well spent. Frontline demonstrations show farmers what can be achieved by a chosen method, in local soil conditions using locally available resources. Farmers must be able to replicate the method and achieve similarly excellent outcomes. Adoption of villages or clusters is about making a longer-term commitment to boost the production of particular crops. Experts guide farmers in using the best-suited seeds and recommended best methods and ensure excellent results in all respects.
Suggested Policy action plan
===================
1. Import restriction by raising import duties on crude and refined vegetable oil.
2. Awareness (by labelling) of what is homegrown and what is not.
3. Minimum support prices (MSP) at remunerative prices plus incentive.
4. Buffer stocks by direct procurement from farmers at MSP.
5. Crop Insurance or a means to a guaranteed return on investment.
6. Policy on GM oil which applies equally to imports and domestic sources.
7. All-out effort in gaining self-sufficiency (even more than the pulses effort).
(Both pulses and oilseeds are targetted for area expansion in rice-fallows of East India. Both are suitable for second cropping with zero-tilling & water conservation. Both need minimal water to grow but respond well to micro-irrigation. Besides oilseeds, palm oil/ olive oil, etc are avenues for increasing vegetable oil production through yield improvements and area expansion.)
Mechanization for enhancing yields and much higher profitability
Benefits will accrue in oilseed cultivation much like mechanisation has enhanced wheat and rice production. Small farmers are taking advantage of contract hirings for availing farm implements. Mechanisation makes effective and efficient use of labour and farm inputs, eg. disciplined sowing by seed drills or ridge makers-cum-planters has many yield benefits compared to "broadcast" seeding; eg. a compound harvester makes quick work of cropping, and collects and sorts crop waste.
Soil health card & Nutritional management for enhancing yields, sowing better varieties & costs
Soil health card (or soil analysis report) pins down the nutritional management that is appropriate for high-yielding or hybrid varieties of oilseeds. If required, farmers must supplement the major fertilizers (eg N, P, K) with secondary nutrients like S and micronutrients like Zn, Boron, Molybdenum. Yield increases of 10-25% are possible depending on the extent of the deficiency.
Hybrid seeds for enhancing yield and boosting production of sunflower, castor and Indian mustard
Field demonstrations have convincingly shown 30-40% higher yields from hybrid seeds (of some oilseeds), compared to "open-pollinated varieties". Thus, concerted efforts are needed to scale-up access & production of hybrid seeds and for expanding the area under hybrids:
Seed hubs
Healthy "seed replacement rate" is needed to sustain high yields. Despite much higher SRR in all states, old seed varieties are still present in the seeds supply chain. Access to good quality seeds, closeby, at the right time & quantity, is a major hindrance for farmers, so efforts should be made to:
1) Move towards certified seeds.
2) Good seed storage facilities (climate-controlled where necessary).
3) Private sector & Co-ops' involvement along with the public-sector (NSC & state SCs).
4) Seed plan for each state, for strengthening local access and other issues wrt breeder seeds.
Knowledge empowerment
Many farmers are still growing decades-old varieties and making little or no investments in crop management. In some cases, this is simply because the farmers do not have adequate information. Knowledge can be imparted by organizing training programs and field days. Farmer participatory trials or demonstrations may help to convince the farmers of the benefit of improved cultivars and production technologies. Distribution of small seed samples (2-5 kg) to a large number of farmers would help in the rapid adoption of new varieties.
Extension services enhance yield and rapid spread of recommended technologies
Extension services are public investments designed to instil behavioural change, and rapidly move farmers towards adopting the most appropriate high-yielding seeds and advanced technologies. A review should prove that money is well spent. Frontline demonstrations show farmers what can be achieved by a chosen method, in local soil conditions using locally available resources. Farmers must be able to replicate the method and achieve similarly excellent outcomes. Adoption of villages or clusters is about making a longer-term commitment to boost the production of particular crops. Experts guide farmers in using the best-suited seeds and recommended best methods and ensure excellent results in all respects.
Suggested Policy action plan
===================
1. Import restriction by raising import duties on crude and refined vegetable oil.
2. Awareness (by labelling) of what is homegrown and what is not.
3. Minimum support prices (MSP) at remunerative prices plus incentive.
4. Buffer stocks by direct procurement from farmers at MSP.
5. Crop Insurance or a means to a guaranteed return on investment.
6. Policy on GM oil which applies equally to imports and domestic sources.
7. All-out effort in gaining self-sufficiency (even more than the pulses effort).
(Both pulses and oilseeds are targetted for area expansion in rice-fallows of East India. Both are suitable for second cropping with zero-tilling & water conservation. Both need minimal water to grow but respond well to micro-irrigation. Besides oilseeds, palm oil/ olive oil, etc are avenues for increasing vegetable oil production through yield improvements and area expansion.)
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