Profitability of oilseeds is an important concern for enhancing domestic production in order to reduce import dependence for edible oils. The present study has used secondary data from the Cost of Cultivation Surveys for selected states for the period 2000–01 to 2014–15 to analyse the trends in real income from oilseed crops and has discussed the underlying factors. Income from oilseed crops has increased in the states where proportionate rise in price was realized and/or yield of crop was higher than the change in cost of inputs. Profitability of oilseed crops has decreased in the states with proportionately higher increase in cost of inputs than the yield or decline in the real price received. Thus, the factors which have affected the change in income from oilseed crops are change in yield realized, price of the crop realized and change in cost of inputs. A large yield gap exists for oilseed crops across states due to poor adoption of production technologies and lower application of productive and protective inputs. The yield gap can be narrowed down through supply of quality input at affordable prices, increase in adoption of production technology and price support with effective procurement. Efforts are to be enhanced to improve water-use efficiency to enhance productivity and profitability, and in turn farmers’ income.
Cost and profitability, oilseeds, farmers’ income
