OILSEED PRODUCTION TRENDS AND PERFORMANCE IN RAJASTHAN INDIA

The agricultural sector is a cornerstone of India's economy, particularly for rural communities and marginalized groups.Rajasthan, the largest state in India, is a significant contributor to the nation's agricultural sector, particularly in the production of groundnut and rapeseed & mustard.Using secondary data from 2000-01 to 2021-22 collected from several authentic sources, the study employs Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) analysis, instability indices, trend models to quantify these trends, and decomposition analysis.Groundnut production showed significant growth, particularly in yield, across the periods studied.The overall growth rate for groundnut production was found to be positive and significant, attributed largely to increase in both area and yield, driven by favourable Minimum Support Prices (MSP).For rapeseed & mustard, while production and yield showed positive growth, some periods exhibited non-significant growth rates.The overall period, however, reflected significant production growth, supported by increased MSPs.Instability analysis revealed considerable variability in the output of both crops, with higher variability noted in production compared to area and yield.Trend analysis identified quadratic and cubic patterns in the growth of groundnut and rapeseed & mustard, respectively.The decomposition analysis further highlighted that primary drivers of production growth were area expansion and yield improvements.The study suggests the need for targeted interventions to enhance agricultural productivity, stabilize prices, and support sustainable growth.Effective agricultural policies, and yield enhancement programs are essential to mitigate the challenges faced by farmers and ensure long-term food and nutritional security in India.