April 27, 2021
As mustard harvesting and soybean crushing are in full swing edible oil industry in India is taking measures to avoid any shortage of workers. Increasing Covid-19 cases and imposition of tighter restrictions including lockdown in some states have created anxiety among migrant workers and the industry is seeking to allay their fears.
Edible oil companies are arranging food and housing for the workers in factory premises and vaccination camps for those who are aged 45 years and above so that they can work in the fields and factories. They said the companies are also organizing transport for the migrant workers who want to go back to their hometowns to meet their families so that they do not face last year’s harrowing experience.
Like Puri Oil Mills have two factories – one at Bahadurgarh in Haryana and the other at Damtal in Himachal Pradesh. We have arranged for the stay and food for the migrant workers in our factories.
Mustard harvesting is currently on in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal. It is estimated that the country will produce around 85-90 lakh tonnes of mustard seeds this year.
Production has gone up for mustard seed this winter. Had it not been for mustard, Indian oil import bill would have shot up and definitely impacted our supply chain and the icing on the cake for our mustard farmers is that they are earning fantastic returns from their crop. This hike in oilseed prices has the potential of not only increasing our production in coming years but also helping in improving rural prosperity.
Soybean Processors Association of India, said, “As of now, we are seeing no problems regarding availability of workers. Soybean crushing is going on in full swing. We are asking people to maintain the Covid protocol and encouraging them to get vaccinated.”
At the moment the edible oil industry has faced any problem regarding availability of workers. India’s edible oil industry provides about one million jobs directly.
Mustard harvesting has gained importance in the country in the backdrop of rising soybean oil prices.