Towards higher Oilseed Yields   Link  Link

Good news has appeared in reports.

GROUNDNUT
ICRISAT shared aspects of two new groundnut varieties with healthier oil (>78% oleic acid content) and potential yields of more than 3t/ha. The high oleic acid in new varieties (x10 higher) extends shelf life and has health benefits like improved blood lipid profile and better glycemic control. Cultivation has started and it will take two years to reach consumers. In an industry meet in Gujarat, an important state for groundnut, it was decided to popularise eco-friendly farming like bio-fertilizer. For robust uptake of new varieties, measures would be taken to achieve high yields and high returns to farmers. Regional production of high-quality seeds with high genetic purity would be set up, and marker-based, quality control checks would be done in farmers’ fields, seed systems, and value chain.

CASTOR OILSEED (inedible)
Agricultural surveys in Gujarat peg production at 1.74 mt in ~750,000ha for 2019-20. This is despite the locust attack in December 2019 which caused serious damage to the crop. Gujarat's yield is said to be 2.39 t/ha against last year’s estimate of 1.75 t/ha. The overall yield for the country for 2019-20 is 2.05 t/ha as compared to 1.41 t/ha last year. Gujarat is by far the biggest producer of castor oilseed and its yield estimate puts it at the very top of the global yields. India's yield would take it from 7th to 2nd rank based on 2017 charts.

RAPE MUSTARD OILSEED
Fungus infection, Alternaria affects up to 2.97m ha or ~43% of total sown area in a bad year, where losses can be as high as 3.4 mt. “But the losses in Rajasthan and UP, where mustard is grown in huge quantities, are lower these days as farmers are more aware and apply fungicide during early days of infestation. Problem is severe in Assam." Scientists have identified genomes from chickpeas that have resistance to Alternaria, so resistance can be transferred to rapeseed-mustard.

According to SEA (solvents extractors association), “R & M are among the most promising oilseed crops for reducing dependence on edible oil imports (via yield and area growth) and increasing farmers' incomes through advancement in existing methods. Besides, R & M offers higher returns at low cost of production and lesser water requirement for irrigation. There should be effective extension support to bridge the awareness gap of advanced techniques, particularly in rainfed regions." 

SEA and Solidaridad are organizing extension support for Rajasthan which is unable to improve or diversify out of low-income, dryland field crops. It makes Raj a good place to start. 100 Mustard Model Farms will be set up on pilots (over 5 years) for 2500 farmers. Field Resource Centre will be set up and farmer field schools will share technical know-how, training and extension support to farmers. First year's yields increased by 30% with more expected. Meanwhile, ICAR is encouraging farmers in East India to grow mustard in rice fallows, with success in the area added and yields. 20 seed hubs will be set up in East and NE India, exclusively for mustard, by the next financial year.

OIL PALM (not oilseed)
Nagaland has 2620ha under palm plantation and has potential for 20+mt/ha of fresh fruit branches for >5yr plants (equals Malaysia, global no. 2) with quality planting materials, irrigation, and proper management. It has 68,000ha of marginal, rain-fed land for oilseeds/ oil palm. With improved irrigation, Telangana will raise oil palm on 18,100ha in the next 2 years.