Strategies for achieving self-sufficiency of Oilseeds in Assam

Abstract

North East India is endowed with a wealth of vegetable oil resources in the form of cultivated annuals, which are grown during Rabi and Kharif seasons. Among the rapeseed-mustard group, toria is predominant because of the suitability of prevailing agro-climatic conditions and early duration of the crop, which enable the farmers to go for the summer crop after harvest of toria. The area, production and productivity of total oilseed crops in Assam is 3.09 lakh ha, 1.98 lakh tonnes and 642 kg/ha, respectively of which rapeseed-mustard occupy the major share i.e. 2.86 lakh ha with a production of 1.84 lakh tonnes having productivity of 643 kg/ha (2018-19). During the period of last seven years, the state achieved 11.2% increase in acreage, 29.4% increase in production and 13.6% enhancement in productivity. The increase in production was mainly owed to increase in area as well as the introduction of improved varieties. Introduction of short duration mustard and late sown improved toria varieties along with improved management practices can pave the way to a better oilseed production scenario. Winter rice in Assam occupies about 18 lakh ha of which 50% area is medium land (9 lakh ha), 35% is low land (6.3 lakh ha) and 15% very low land (2.7 lakh ha). There is ample scope for the increasing area under oilseeds by utilizing winter rice fallows.