India's Mustard Crisis: The Underground Weed Undermining Edible Oil Self-Sufficiency
India's quest for self-reliance in edible oils faces a mounting, hidden challenge from a parasitic weed, Orobanche aegyptiaca. Mustard, cultivated on nearly 9 million hectares across the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal, is the country's largest home-grown source of edible oil. However, rising infestations of this root parasite are causing significant yield losses, directly impacting domestic production and import substitution goals.
Month: Current Affairs - January 14, 2026
Category: Agriculture-FoodSecurity