PTI

Rajasthan govt encourages farmers to grow mustard

Sat, Nov 7 06:22 PM

Jaipur, Nov 7 (PTI) Following bad monsoon and a lowering water table in various parts of Rajasthan, the state government is encouraging farmers to grow mustard rather than wheat. The Rajasthan government is encouraging farmers to sow mustard as the crop needs only two rounds of irrigation.

The moisture content and temperature is ideal for its cultivation due to delayed monsoon. The state government is also providing mustard seeds at a subsidised rate of Rs 30 against Rs 100 in the open market.

According to the agriculture department, mustard acreage in the state is likely to go up by 15 per cent over the target set for this year, which is at 24.54 lakh hectares. The miniscule increase of Rs 20 in wheat MSP announced recently is also discouraging farmers to produce the grain.

"An increase of Rs 20 is not enough to draw farmers to cultivate wheat at a time when they are battling with a drought-like situation in the state," an agriculture department official said.

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