Context:

• In view of the rising demand for mustard oil, a section of farmers of Fulkumar under Gauripur revenue circle has started mustard (Brassica Juncea) cultivation.
• Farmers observe that If the State Agriculture Department comes forward to help our farmers, then it will be a win-win situation for both the farmers and the State government. The farmers also told this correspondent that the State government should provide better market linkages to the farmers, so that more farmers would get inspiration for agriculture.
• There is an increase in mustard cultivation in many parts of Dhubri and Hailakandi as the farmers of this district are now actively involved.

Brief Profile of Oilseeds in Assam

• The agro-ecological conditions of Assam is favorable for growing various annual oilseed crops.
• The important oilseed crops grown in the state are Rape & mustard, Sesame, Linseed, Niger and Groundnut (Table 1)
  Most of the oilseed crops are grown in Assam during Rabi season.
• Rape & mustard (Toria) is predominant oilseed crop in Assam because of the prevailing climatic conditions and early duration of the crop, which enable the farmers to go for the summer crop after harvest of Toria.
• Rape & mustard crops occupies around 2.95 lakh hectare i.e. 85.5 % of total oilseeds crop areas.
   

National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NMOOP) Ministry/Department : Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Objective:

• to expand area under oilseeds,
• harness the potential in the area/ districts of low productivity,
• strengthening inputs delivery mechanism,
• strengthening of post-harvest services besides a focus on tribal areas for tree bourn oilseeds.
• Increasing irrigation coverage under oilseeds from 26% to 36%
• Expansion of cultivation of Oil Palm and tree borne oilseeds in watersheds and wasteland