According to agriculture ministry, the oilseeds production in the 1999-2000 crop season is expected to fall sharply to 21.18 million tonne from 25.21 million tonne last year. In a recent statement, the ministry has indicated that the worst hit will be the groundnut crop which is likely to decline this year by around 40 per cent to 5.61 million tonnes from 9.17 million tonnes last year. Even castorseeds crop is expected to have been hit in Gujarat due to the erratic and less then normal monsoon. Though the castorseed industry, sources say, the crop has a tendency to withstand marginal delay in monsoon. Imports of non-edible oil increased after duties were slashed in 1996 from over 60 per cent to 44 per cent.
Minor oil is derived from seed like mango kernel, mahua, dhupa, neem, kusum karanja, thumba etc.
About 75 per cent of the total minor oil production is for industrial use, while the rest is of the edible variety. Bountiful rain, imports hit edible oil prices Financial Express, July 10 Hoarders of oilseeds, hoping to reap a bounty with the earlier fears of draught in the country, have begun destocking their hoarde, thanks to late but bountiful rains in various oilseed growing regions in the country, especially in the northern region, but not in some parts of Gujarat. Add to this, the continued imports of edible oils, and one can imagine the price graph for both the oilseeds and the edible oils in the country-sharply declining. Given the near-good monsoon, the prices are feared to go down further traders say. The overall picture of sowing, however, will be available by end-July.