MUSTARD

Mustard a plant of the genus sinapis, a pod-bearing, shrub-like plant, growing wild, and also cultivated in gardens. The little round seeds were an emblem of any small insignificant object. The common mustard of Palestine is the Sinapis nigra. This garden herb sometimes grows to a considerable height, so as to be spoken of as "a tree" as compared with garden herbs.

Mustard producing countries

China
Canada
India
Germany
France
Australia
Pakistan
Poland

Mustard producing states in India

Rajasthan
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
Madhya Pradesh
Punjab
Jammu and Kashmir

Mustard spot markets in India

Hapur
Alwar
Bikaner
Jaipur

Peak arrival period for the commodity in these markets is March-May. Major portion of the commodity enters the regulated mandies and is purchased by oilseed crushers.

The prices in the market

Rapeseed prices in the spot market at Hapur, which were at around Rs 12000-13000/ton in 2002, surged to Rs 17000-18000/ton during 2003 owing to sharp decline in production during the 2002-03 crop season. The prices were also seen touching Rs 21000-23000/ton mark during the year.

Mustard production area in India

YEAR	AREA (M.HECTS)	PRODUCTION (M.TONNES)	YIELD (KGS/HECT)	% COVERAGE UNDER IRRIGATION
1	2	3	4	5
1949-50	1.94	0.81	417
1950-51	2.07	0.76	368	.
1951-52	2.4	0.94	393	.
1952-53	2.11	0.86	408	.
1953-54	2.24	0.87	389	.
1954-55	2.44	1.04	425	.
1955-56	2.56	0.86	336	10.4
1956-57	2.54	1.04	411	13.5
1957-58	2.41	0.93	387	13
1958-59	2.45	1.04	426	13
1959-60	2.91	1.06	365	12.3
1960-61	2.88	1.35	467	12.1
1961-62	3.17	1.35	425	13.2
1962-63	3.13	1.3	417	13.3
1963-64	3.05	0.92	300	16.1
1964-65	2.91	1.47	507	15.2
1965-66	2.91	1.3	446	15.8
1966-67	3.01	1.23	408	20.3
1967-68	3.24	1.57	483	14.8
1968-69	2.87	1.35	469	18.4
1969-70	3.17	1.56	493	23.5
1970-71	3.32	1.98	594	25.2
1971-72	3.61	1.43	396	28.6
1972-73	3.32	1.81	545	26.7
1973-74	3.46	1.7	493	30.4
1974-75	3.68	2.25	612	35.4
1975-76	3.34	1.94	580	31.2
1976-77	3.13	1.55	496	34.4
1977-78	3.58	1.65	460	39.7
1978-79	3.54	1.86	525	39.7
1979-80	3.47	1.43	411	41.9
1980-81	4.11	2.3	560	43.7
1981-82	4.4	2.38	541	44.9
1982-83	3.83	2.21	577	44
1983-84	3.87	2.61	673	46.6
1984-85	3.99	3.07	771	53.3
1985-86	3.98	2.68	674	51.3
1986-87	3.72	2.6	700	51.8
1987-88	4.62	3.45	748	54.7
1988-89	4.83	4.38	906	60
1989-90	4.97	4.13	831	61.6
1990-91	5.78	5.23	904	59.8
1991-92	6.55	5.86	895	63.9
1992-93	6.19	4.8	776	60
1993-94	6.29	5.33	847	59.4
1994-95	6.01	5.76	958	62.4
1995-96	6.55	6	916	66.3
1996-97	6.55	6.66	1017	.
1997-98	7.06	4.71	667	.

STATE-WISE AREA, PRODUCTION AND YIELD OF RAPESEED AND MUSTARD(1997-98)
STATE	AREA (M.HECTS)	% OF TOTAL AREA	PRODUCTION (M.TONNES)	% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION	YIELD (KGS/HECT)	% COVERAGE UNDER IRRIGATION (1995-96)
1	2	3	4	5	6	12
ASSAM	0.28	4	0.15	3.2	554	-
BIHAR	0.1	1.4	0.09	1.9	887	33.3
GUJARAT	0.35	5	0.35	7.4	1013	97.8
HARYANA	0.56	7.9	0.37	7.9	667	66.8
MADHYA PRADESH	0.74	10.5	0.42	8.9	574	45.3
PUNJAB	0.07	1	0.06	1.3	871	87.4
RAJASTHAN	3.28	46.5	2.19	46.5	670	73.4
UTTAR PRADESH	1.2	17	0.71	15.1	593	75.2
WEST BENGAL	0.33	4.7	0.25	5.3	767	85.2
OTHERS	0.15	2.1	0.12	2.5	.	.
ALL-INDIA	7.06	100	4.71	100	667	66.3

Factors influencing the prices

Various supply-demand factors revolving around the global edible oil scenario.
The seasonal nature of the production
Its high susceptibility to natural fallacies
Wide consumption of its derivatives (oil and meal)
The nature of the existing supply
Value chain
The present dependence on the other edible oils
Oilseeds traded in the country and abroad
The ups and downs in production
Arrivals in the mandi
International prices of other oilseeds and oils
Heavy presence of speculators and stockists
The presence of a large unorganised crushing sector

Mustard producing climate

Mustard is cultivated in most temperate climates. It is also now grown in certain tropical and sub-tropical regions as a cold-weather crop. The production from Rajasthan is highly monsoon dependent.

Sowing period: October-November

Harvesting period: February - March

Production and Consumption

The World production has increased from 26.8 million tons in 1993-94 to 36.54 million tons in 2001-02; production

Consumption of this oilseed grew at the rate of 4.65% and 5.03% respectively during the last decade. Annual export trade of rapeseed stands at around 3 million tons.

The commodity has been commercially exploited in the form of seeds, oil and meal. The hybrid form of rapeseed known as canola in overseas market is more popular internationally. Rapeseed, as 'canola' is actively traded at the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange (WCE) in Canada.

The Indian Scenario

Rapeseed has been a traditionally important oilseed crop in the country. Its production has been fluctuating in the range of 4.6-5 million tons over the last few years.

The average production in the country in the last decade has been around 5.3 - 5.4 million tons. About 1.5 lakh tons is retained for sowing and direct consumption as 'seed', leaving about 4.8-5.1 million tons for crushing and extracting oil. It is a major Rabi crop. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are the major rapeseed producing States in the country. Together, they produce about 50% of the crop.

Rapeseed/Mustard is one of the major sources of oil and meal to India. It supplies over 1.5 million tons of oil and 3-3.2 million tons of meal.

Being an important source of edible oil and feed meal to the country, rapeseed is undoubtedly the focus of Indian oilseed industry. Efforts are being made both by the Government of India and the industry associations to increase production of this vital source of edible oil and meal.

Properties

Mustard seeds eliminate the excessive humours of phlegm and bile in the body. It is sharp, hot, an appetizer and causes plethora. It is beneficial in many diseases like eczema, leprosy, flatulence, and throat diseases. It also helps in the elimination of the worms and the intestines.

Uses

Eating Mustard seeds, which are crushed in honey, cures coryza.
Swallowing mustard seeds soaked in mustard oil, cures stomachache. Swallowing three grams of powdered mustard seeds with water, cures stomachache as well as indigestion
Drinking water which is warm and in which, 6 grams of mustard seeds and salt are mixed, extracts poison from the body in the form of vomit.
If the mixture of three grams of powdered mustard seeds and three grams of asafoetida is given to a pregnant woman she gets aborted.
If a paste made of powdered mustard seeds and powdered mineral salts is applied on the part which is affected by swelling, it decreases.
Massaging the body with mustard oil is very beneficial as it cures flatulence and makes the body strong.

Note - Mustard seeds when taken in small quantity, helps in digestion, is an appetizer, a stimulant etc; but its excessive use causes vomit.