Date:14/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/14/stories/2005111401340700.htm

Back Kharif oilseeds output pegged at 133.7 lakh t

G. Chandrashekhar

Indore , Nov. 13

KHARIF 2005 oilseeds production is estimated at 133.7 lakh tonnes, up from 123.6 lakh tonnes of kharif 2004. This crop estimate was arrived at by trade representatives at the all-India convention held here today.

Production of groundnut in-shell was estimated at 52 lakh tonnes (44.5 lakh tonnes last year) and soyabean at 61.6 lakh tonnes (58.5 lakh tonnes).

Amongst the other oilseeds, estimate for sunflowerseed was 5.6 lakh tonnes (4.9 lakh tonnes) and for sesameseed 4.2 lakh tonnes (4.7 lakh tonnes).

The trade estimate for castorseed was 8.7 lakh tonnes (8 lakh tonnes).

Based on an estimated 255 lakh bales of cotton (170 kg each), cottonseed production was estimated at a record 84.9 lakh tonnes (79.9 lakh tonnes), which would lead to production of 7.7 lakh tonnes of cottonseed oil.

Coconut oil production was estimated at 4.2 lakh tonnes, unchanged from last year's level.

The trade estimated edible oil imports during oil year 2004-05 (November-October) at 51 lakh tonnes in addition to vanaspati imports of 2 lakh tonnes and non-edible oil imports of 4 lakh tonnes.

The convention was organised jointly by the Central Organisation for Oil Industry and Trade and the Soyabean Processors Association of India.