Mustrad

Mustard and rapeseed (canola) is the third largest vegetable oil traded in the world, next to soyabean and palm oil. A genetically modified variety of rapeseed (Brassica sps.) that was developed by Canadian plant breeders specifically for its nutritional qualities and its low level of saturated fat is known as Canola, which is a short form of “Canadian oil”.

Rapeseed oil reported to be used as a marine and industrial lubricant during World War II and consequently, the market for rapeseed oil plummeted in the post war period. Production of rapeseed has been rising rather steeply during the past two decades and has outpaced the production of other oilseeds including peanut, cottonseed and sunflower.

Rapeseed and mustard can be cultivated in both tropical as well as temperate climates. Its growth is most vigorous in temperatures between 10°C and 30°C with an optimum temperature of around 20°C. Seed oil formation is optimum at a temperature of 10°C to 15°C. The crop is very sensitive to high temperatures as well as for frost at the time of flowering. Crop growth is healthy at a rainfall of 350-550 mm.

•  Seed: Rapeseed and mustard is grown for its oil rich seeds. Apart from extracting oil, seeds are also used directly in the preparation of almost all Indian curries particularly in a process called “tadka”

•  Oil: Well-developed rapeseed seed contains 40 to 44% of edible oil.

•  Meal: Seed extract after recovering oil is used as a feed.