Oilseeds in Indian Agriculture: Cultivation and Significance

Oilseeds are vital crops in India, with their cultivation spanning various regions and seasons across the country. Groundnut, mustard, sesame, and other oilseeds are cultivated as both kharif and rabi crops, contributing substantially to India’s agricultural output. The production and consumption of oilseeds play a crucial role in the country’s food security and economic development, making their cultivation and management essential aspects of Indian agriculture.

Oilseed Cultivation In India

• Area: Account for about 14% of total cropped area; 
• Oilseeds growing regions of India: Drylands of Malwa plateau, Marathwada, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka plateau.

Groundnut

• Season: It is a rainfed kharif crop in drylands however in southern India.
  • It is grown as rabi crop as well and covers about 3.6% of total cropped area; 
• Temperature: 20 to 25 degree celsius; 
• Rainfall: 50 to 100 cm; 
• Soil: sandy loams, loams and well drained soils.
• Production: India produces about 16.6% of total groundnut production in the world (2016); 
• Leading Producers:  Gujarat (45%) > Rajasthan > Tamil Nadu (ES 2022-23).

Rapeseed and Mustard

• Temperature: 10 to 20 degree celsius; 
• Rainfall: 25 to 40 cm; 
• Soil: Heavier loams for mustard; 
  • Light loams for rapeseed;
• Types of Rapeseed and Mustard: Eight different types found such as Indian mustard, toria, yellow sarson, brown sarson, gobhi sarson, karan rai, black mustard, and taramira, are grown in 53 countries worldwide.
• Subtropical Crop: grow during rabi season; frost-sensitive crop.
• Production: Grown in north-western and central parts and covers about 2.5% of total cropped area; 
• Leading Producers : Rajasthan (47%) > Madhya Pradesh > Haryana (ES 2022-23).

Soyabean 

• Season: Kharif Crop; 
• Temperature: 13 to 24 degree celsius; 
• Rainfall: 40 to 60 cm; 
• Soil: friable laomy acidic.
• Leading Producer : Maharashtra (42%) >Madhya Pradesh (41%) > Rajasthan (ES 2022-23); Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh together produce about 90 per cent of total output of soyabean.

Sunflower 

• Temperature: 26 to 30 degree celsius; 
• Rainfall: < 50 cm; 
• Soil: well drained loamy soil.
• Production: Cultivation concentrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and adjoining areas of Maharashtra.
• Leading Producers:  Karnataka (54%) > Telangana > Odisha (ES 2022-23).

Conclusion

• Oilseeds are vital crops in India, with their cultivation spanning various regions and seasons across the country. 
• Groundnut, mustard, sesame, and other oilseeds are cultivated as both kharif and rabi crops, contributing substantially to India’s agricultural output. 
• The production and consumption of oilseeds play a crucial role in the country’s food security and economic development, making their cultivation and management essential aspects of Indian agriculture.