November 9, 2009
India 2009-10 rapeseed area likely up above 7 million hectares
India's rapeseed area in the crop year that started Oct. 1 is likely to rise above 7 million hectares from 6.5 million hectares last year, due to a shift from wheat related to low water availability, industry officials said Friday (November 6).
"Farmers may shift from wheat to rapeseed as it requires less water," said Govindbhai Patel, managing partner of Dipak Enterprises and a leading expert on vegetable oils.
Sowing of both wheat and rapeseed normally starts in October in India. Rains in the 2009 monsoon season were 23 percent below normal, the worst in 37 years.
In Rajasthan, the country's biggest rapeseed producer, area may rise 15 percent from last year, said Vijay Data, managing director of Vijay Solvex Ltd.
Analysts said the rise in area under cultivation may lead to higher production in 2009-10.
"We may see an increase in production, but weather conditions in December and January will play a crucial role," said Veeresh Hiremath, senior analyst with Karvy Comtrade Ltd.
India's rapeseed production in 2008-09 was estimated at 6.2 million tonnes, according to industry data.
