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…