Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, May 9: The rising price of edible oil has prompted farmers across Kashmir to cultivate mustard crops in their fields, which is expected to boost their income and help the region achieve production self-sufficiency in the long run.
The increase in mustard cultivation was made possible, according to officials, by the launch of the National Mission on Edible Oils, which aims to double the income of farmers in the region and reduce dependence on imported oil.
“This is the first time that this much land has been brought under mustard cultivation, and we would like to continue it in the coming year,” Chowdhary Muhammad Iqbal, Director of Agriculture Kashmir, told Excelsior.
According to Chowdhary, the department received 16, 000 quintals of seeds from the union government, which they distributed to farmers. Their goal, he said, is to make Kashmir a major producer of edible oil, reducing reliance on other regions. “If we can reduce dependence by 20%, we must feel like we have made an impact,” he said, adding that the Valley has some of the best land and weather for growing mustard crops, but its potential has been underutilized.
Ghulam Mohammad, a farmer from Pulwama, told Excelsior that the crop’s cultivation has declined in some areas as people have shifted to more profitable crops. “This year, with the rise in cooking oil prices and government support, more people have cultivated it,” he said.
He added that the price of oilseed has increased as more people show interest in it. “I sold one quintal of seed at Rs 14,000, which is triple the rate it used to be. If the rates stay the same, our income will double,” he said.
According to an official from the agriculture department, farmers benefit from cultivating the mustard crop in different ways. “The oil cakes that are produced while pressing the seeds can be used as fodder for the cattle while the left-over part of the plant acts as a fertilizer for the land,” an official from the agriculture department said.
He continued that this dietary oil is better for regional dishes. “We are not sure what kind of oil is being imported here because several cases of substandard oils have been found here. Under proper supervision, this oil can be processed here,” he added.
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