Rajasthan is the largest producer of mustard in the country and last year it produced 22.33 lakh tonnes of mustard when the total area under the crop covered was 23.20 lakh hectares. For the current year, the agriculture department has fixed the area to be covered by mustard at 23.60 lakh hectares. Due to the timely rains, the farmers seem to be more keen to cover larger areas under mustard, particularly in the Bharatpur, Alwar, Kotan and Bundi regions. Even in western Rajasthan, the crop has now become popular with the farmers due to the high returns they get.

If all goes well, the production target of mustard put at 24.50 lakh tonnes may be surpassed, feel experts. The department is also trying to ensure that the certified seeds are made available in requisite quantities.Sources in the department say that about 50 per cent of the seeds in case of mustard are of certified varieties.

Last year the mustard crop was damaged due to the excessive rains which led to some diseases. However the final production figure of 22.33 lakh tonnes is considered not low by any yardstick.

Late rains will also help the farmers in raising the area under gram. The department has fixed the area under gram at 15 lakh hectares as against 28.16 lakh hectares last year. The gram production last year was 20.74 lakh tonnes.

The production figure of this year in case of gram is 11.85 lakh tonnes but sources point out that due to the timely rains it may go up. Last year was exceptionally a good year for gram when the area had shot up to a record 28.16 lakh hectares.

The yield in case of gram is low in Rajasthan and the department is trying to ensure that it goes up. New varieties of gram seeds are being developed in the state to achieve the end.

The sowings of both wheat and barley will beginsometime in November next but nothing at this stage is said about the production figures. However, since the crops cover mostly the irrigated areas, the production could be normal.

Due to inadequate monsoon this year, the dams and the canals have lesser water and this may lead to some problems in irrigating the areas. From the Indira Gandhi Canal Project the irrigation water available is perennial and this is the reason why the department is hopeful that in the canal fed areas, covering about 14 lakh hectares, the production may be normal. The kharif crop in the state, in the meantime, has suffered a lot this year due to the failure of rains.