Exploring the potential of the mustard crop in making Odisha’s rice fallows productive

Girija Prasad Swain, Mosharaf Hossain, and Swati Nayak

Odishas's 2020 agriculture policy recognizes the importance of cropping diversification in favor of oilseeds for higher and more stable farm income. The demand for oilseed products is rising with increasing per capita income, leading to higher production of oilseed crops.

However, oilseeds occupy only 7% of the state's gross cropping systems
areas, which are dominated by cereal (52%) and pulse (22%), according to a 2022-23 Economic Survey. Of the 0.6 million oilseed crop areas, 70% are planted with sesame, groundnut, and mustard.

Mustard is grown in only 17% of the total oilseeds area, with Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Sundargarh now leading in mustard production in the state. The oil content of mustard varies from 37% to 49%. The oil is mainly for human consumption, and local traders have created a reasonable market chain to sell the produce. However, the low productivity of 436 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) remains a concern for wider mustard production.

Odisha has an estimated 1 million ha of rice fallow that can be cultivated after the kharif rice harvest. The vast rice fallows offer tremendous opportunities to grow a medium-duration crop like mustard to optimize the cropping system and maximize farm returns.

However, the challenges to making rice fallows productive are multifactorial. Access to quality seeds, appropriate varieties, community mobilization, sufficient irrigation, and market triggers can expand the area and boost mustard production.

Embarking on the ambitious and meticulously planned Comprehensive Rice Fallow Management (CRFM) Program by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment (DAFE) of Odisha, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has been closely working with 4,197 men and women farmers in Balasore and helped manage rice fallows in 2,400 ha with mustard crop.

About half of the area remained fallow in the dry season in 2023. The project introduced the Giriraj variety, which matures in 120-130 days and fits the cropping pattern. The variety has a good yield of about 860 kg/ha, significantly higher than the current state average.

Many participating farmers saw Giriraj as an additional crop to enhance their farm revenue. One such farmer is Sasmita Puhan, in the Simulaia block of Balasore District. She has yet to see a post-kharif crop grown on her land, where cattle grazing is common after harvesting kharif rice.

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IRRI approached Ms. Puhan through CRFM because of her keen interest and inventiveness. IRRI also mobilized another 26 farmers in the same locality, bringing their lands together to form a 10-ha patch and providing them with quality seeds, varietal knowledge, micronutrients, and pesticides.

The CRFM organized regular meetings with the farmers to generate awareness about suitable crops, varieties, and seeds for the fallow season. Including mustard catalyzes the larger agricultural agenda of crop diversification and intensification.

Ms. Puhan harvested 1.1 metric tons of mustard from her one-hectare land. Mustard sells for USD 0.85/kg in the local market. After subtracting the cost of land preparation, irrigation, and other operational costs, she earned USD 545.00. The income from her mustard crop significantly supplements her family's income. The production economics are invariably the same for all the farmers who decided to grow mustard in their fallow lands.

The additional farm income motivates the expansion of the areas under mustard cultivation to maximize the productivity of fallow fields. The realized financial benefits will act as an incentive to attract and convince other farmers to adopt the simple yet rewarding cropping practice.

"The lush yellow mustard field not only soothes the eyes and mind but also brings fortune for us with good income," said Ms Puhan. Her happiness is a testament to an impressive success story with rice fallow management by DAFE and IRRI.

In the coming seasons, IRRI will continue collaborating with farmers, especially smallholders, to improve their incomes through targeted cropping system optimization and seed system intervention.

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