INTRODUCTION 

There is less established cropping system for oilseed crops in the country. The major crops in the existing system are wheat, cotton, rice and maize. However, some pockets for sunflower such as rice-sunflower-rice and cotton-sunflower-cotton are emerging in all the provinces. Currently, 748 thousand ha of the total cropped area is under oilseed crops.

Pakistan has been constantly and chronically deficient in edible oil production. At present, about 70% of the domestic requirements are met through imports. Since early 1970s its import increased at the rate of 12.5% annually and the trend will further not only continue but will also get worsen with increase in population. However, efforts have been made to increase its local production. The area under oilseed crops during 1990-91 was 473,000 ha with the production of 3650,000 tones, which was 748,000 ha producing 4767,000 tones in 2008-09. Sunflower and Canola with high oil yield per unit area have emerged major oilseed crops and have the potential to narrow the gap between production and consumption of edible oil.

Sunflower

Rapeseed - Mustard

Sesame

Groundnut

Linseed 

Safflower

Soybean

Castor

Domestic production of edible oil during 2000-01 was 642 thousand tons which substantially decreased to 475 thousand tons in 2002-03. It increased gradually and reached to 565 thousand tons during 2008-09 (Table 1) due to canola and sunflower plantation on a considerable area.

Table 1. Share of domestic production and import in total availability of edible oil in Pakistan.

      Source: Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan, 2008-09

Share of Major Crops

In domestic production, major share comes from cottonseed contributing 53% of local production. Sunflower contributes 33%, rapeseed-mustard (9%) and canola contributes 5%. Sunflower, rapeseed-mustard and canola are the potential crops, which can fulfill some requirements of edible oil in the country (Table-2).

Table 2.          Share of major oilseed crops in local edible oil production

Source:        Economic Survey of Pakistan, 2009-10

In Pakistan mainly two types of oilseed crops are grown i.e., traditional (rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, sesame and linseed) and non-traditional (sunflower, safflower, soybean). The area under these crops remained almost stagnant with minor fluctuations except sunflower, rapeseed and mustard (especially canola) and sesame which showed a considerable increase in area, production and yield per unit area during the last 10 years. During 2008-09, traditional and non-traditional oilseed crops were grown on 50% and 50% respectively of the total oilseed area (Table-3).

 Table 3.  Area, production and yield of different oilseed crops during 2008-09

Source:     Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan, 2008-09

Yield Potential

Big gaps exist between potential yield and national average yield of various oilseed crops. About 78% of the yield potential has not yet been achieved in rapeseed-mustard, 77% in groundnut, 69% in sunflower, 62% in sesame, 73% in linseed and 70% safflower (Table 4). However, the progressive farmers are already achieving more than 70% of the yield potential indicating that there is a large scope for vertical increase in oilseed production through the use of proper crop management practices.

Table 4.   Production potential and yield gap of different oilseed crops.

Source:  Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan, 2008-09

FACILITIES

Oilseeds Research Program has following facilities at NARC:

• Twenty hectare land for various field trials.

• Oil quality laboratory for evaluation of various quality parameters.

• Storage facility for inputs and crop harvests.

• NUYT and adaptability trials on hybrids are also conducted at different federal and provincial research institutes of public and private sectors.

SERVICES

Oilseeds Research Program extends following services to public as well as private organizations:

Research

• Acquisition and distribution of oilseed germplasm to various collaborators.

• Evaluation of candidate varieties and oilseed hybrids for adaptability, resistance to insect pests and diseases and oil quality.

• Conducting and maintenance of kharif and rabi trials at NARC.

Extension

Extends advisory services to farming community on oilseed production/protection issues from time to time. In addition, farmers’ are also given awareness about the improved production technology of oilseed crops in field days and through print and electronic (Sohni Dharti) media.

Education

• Scientists of Oilseed Program also extend advisory/research services (as supervisor) to various M.Sc, PhD and Internee students from different universities.

• Trainings are also imparted to in-service extension staff and oilseed growers.

• Dr. M. Yasin Mirza, PSO, has scrutinized about 100 synopsis of M.Sc./Ph.D. students as nominated external member, synopsis committee of Plant Breeding and Genetics department, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi.

• In-service qualification improvement/training for higher studies

CURRENT RESEARCH

Objectives

• Acquisition, maintenance and evaluation of germplasm of oilseed crops

• Development of parent lines of sunflower and canola for hybrid development

• Development of high yielding, early maturing, insect and disease resistant oilseed varieties/hybrids

• Development/dissemination of improved production technology on oilseed crops

• Collaboration with Public and Private Sector for promotion of oilseed crops

• Demonstration of local hybrid seed production of canola and sunflower for private sector

On-going activities

a) Coordination

• Maintaining genetic diversity through acquisition and distribution of relevant germplasm.

• National Uniform Yield Trials (varieties and hybrids) in sunflower, rapeseed, mustard, sesame and groundnut.

• Annual oilseed review and planning meeting.

• Traveling seminar.

b) Research

• Utilization of oilseeds germplasm for genetic enrichment and variety development

• Testing of promising entries/lines in preliminary and advanced yield trials

• Conducting agronomic studies on oilseed crops

• Screening of oilseed crops for various insects/pests

• Development of local sunflower hybrids

• Development of canola type varieties and hybrids of rapeseed

• Development of canola type mustard varieties

• Development of phyllody and shattering resistant varieties of sesame

• Development of high yielding, medium and short duration groundnut varieties

• Seed production of pre-basic seed of sunflower and canola hybrids

• Improving production technology in oilseed crops

 ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF OILSEED CROPS IN PAKISTAN

 Different Ecological Zones of Rapeseed/Mustard and Sunflower 

ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF OILSEED CROPS IN PAKISTAN

Different Ecological Zones of Groundnut and Sesame

PUBLICATIONS

SCIENTIFIC STAFF

Resource Person:

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