Mustard sweep

Mustard production is heading for a high in the country with Rajasthan already recording a bumper crop.

The Directorate of Oilseeds Development in Hyderabad has noted that the area coverage of mustard has jumped. ‘‘The mustard has already started coming to the market. Procurement arrangements are going on,’’ said an official. The directorate said the area covered by mustard and rapeseed this year is 68.49 lakh hectare, up from last year’s 59.33 lakh hectare. In 2002-03, the coverage was 50.94 lakh hectare.

The crop is at seed setting stage to maturity stage in all mustard growing states. However, harvesting of early sown crop has been reported from UP and Rajasthan. ‘‘All these crops are grown in the rain-fed areas and farmers have planned their production based on the rain. The winter rains have helped farmers. The soil moisture has helped the crop,’’ an official said.