The area under mustard cultivation this year is estimated to have increased by 5% to 100.39 lakh hectares (lh) as on February 1 from 95.76 lh a year ago. This estimate is based on a survey conducted by RMSI Cropalytics, designated by the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) for canola and mustard cultivation across India.
BV Mehta, executive director of SEA, said RMSI has submitted its third report based on remote sensing. The area under mustard cultivation has decreased in some states this year. Explaining this, he said farmers in many districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan have chosen other crops instead of mustard. He said, the price of mustard offered is lower than the minimum support price (MSP). The remote sensing survey shows that the area has increased by 5% in eight major states from 86.45 lh on February 1, 2022-23 to 90.63 lh today. Among these states, the area decreased to 2.69 lh (2.91 lh) in Gujarat and 1.92 lh (2.09 lh) in Chhattisgarh.
Big Leap in UP
Uttar Pradesh saw a significant 27% increase in area from 14 lh in 2022-23 to 17.76 lh in 2023-24. In Haryana, the area increased by 5% to 7.59 lh (7.34 lh). The area increased by 1% from 37.43 lh (37.82 lh) in Rajasthan and increased by 5% to 13.96 lh (13.23 lh) in Madhya Pradesh. However, the area decreased by 8% and 1% in West Bengal and Assam respectively.
The remote sensing-based survey shows that the area under mustard cultivation has increased by 5% to 9.76 lh (9.31 lh) in other states of the country. Mehta said RMSI conducted analysis in mustard growing districts using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Normal plant health occurs when NDVI values are greater than 0.45. Better canopy moisture means healthier vegetation and optimal growth. Mehta said crop condition is said to be optimal in states like Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, indicating good crop conditions so far, while crop conditions are average in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
