Oil processing unit helps farmers fetch better prices of mustard harvested in Udaipur

Bagma Agri Producer Company Limited in Tripura's Gomati district has been processing and marketing filtered mustard oil sourced from locally procured mustard seeds, creating a market linkage for farmers and generating additional income through by-products, officials said.

The producer company began mustard oil processing activities during 2021-22 using an oil extraction machine provided by the Agriculture Department under the guidance of the then Sub-Divisional Agriculture officer of Matabari agricultural subdivision, officials said.

The company procures mustard seeds from farmers in Udaipur, Chandrapur, Sabroom, Amarpur and Boxanagar every 15 to 16 days at prices ranging between Rs 65 and Rs 70 per kilogram, they said.

According to officials associated with the initiative, the seeds are processed through an oil extraction machine without the use of preservatives or additives to produce filtered mustard oil.

The processing unit extracts around 42 litres of mustard oil per day on average. The product is marketed through both online and offline channels, though most sales currently take place through advance orders placed by customers through offline networks, they said.

Officials said online sales are also being carried out through the MyStore platform and have shown gradual growth.

The mustard oil is currently sold at Rs 260 per litre, while mustard cake, a by-product generated during processing, is sold at Rs 50 per kilogram.

Mustard cake is widely used in fisheries and agriculture and has emerged as an additional revenue source for the enterprise. Farmers regularly purchase the by-product, contributing to resource utilisation and farm-based activities, officials said.

They said demand for the filtered mustard oil has led to orders from different parts of Tripura, indicating growing acceptance of the product among consumers.

The producer company said further support in areas such as infrastructure development, additional machinery, marketing and market linkage could help expand operations and create more livelihood opportunities for farmers.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening local value addition in agriculture while providing a market for mustard growers and promoting rural economic activities in the state.