Mustard is India’s largest source of edible oil
Q. Which is India’s largest source of edible oil?- Published on 17 Feb 16a. Mustard
b. Soyabean
c. Groundnut
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Mustard
- Mustard is India’s largest source of edible oil.
- Unlike soyabean, which has only 18 per cent oil content, and groundnut, more than 50 per cent of whose kernels are either consumed directly or exported, rapeseed/mustard is one crop that is a ‘true’ oilseed. With annual production of around 2.4 million tonnes (mt), mustard accounts for a quarter of the country’s average edible oil availability of 9.4 mt from indigenous sources (see chart).
- Mustard would be central to any strategy aimed at reducing India’s reliance on edible oil imports.
- The fact that it is a rabi crop with almost 75 per cent area under irrigation — as against barely 25 per cent in groundnut and one per cent for soyabean — and having roughly 40 per cent oil content, makes mustard the most suitable candidate for ushering in a ‘yellow revolution’.
