India winter oilseeds output seen at 16.83 MT

NAGPUR, India (Reuters) - India's output of winter harvested oilseeds in 2007 is forecast at 16.83 million tonnes, 3.38 million tonnes more than the year ago crop due to higher acreage and good rains, a leading trade body said on Sunday.

The Central Organisation of Oil Industry and Trade had in its first estimate in September forecast the winter crop at 15.15 million tonnes. The organisation also said India produced 13.45 million tonnes of oilseeds in the winter of 2006, up from its earlier estimate of 13.15 million tonnes.

The apex body of trade organisations, after a meeting in Nagpur, said production of soybean, the main winter oilseed crop, is estimated at 9.46 million tonnes against the revised production figure of 7.98 million tonnes in the winter of 2006.

India harvests two oilseeds crops annually but only one of soybeans. Rapeseed is the main summer harvested crop.

Winter harvested oilseeds are sown in the monsoon season beginning in June and harvested from October. The summer harvested crop is sown in November and harvested from April.

Winter groundnut output (equivalent in kernels) is estimated at 3.69 million tonnes, up from 2.45 million tonnes, the organisation said.

The Farm Ministry has said area under winter oilseeds was estimated at 17.19 million hectares, up from 15.95 million hectares in the winter of 2006.

However, trade officials said despite higher production of oilseeds, India may have to import more vegetable oil. In the year ended October 2007, India's total vegetable oil imports are estimated at 5.65 million tonnes.

There were concerns higher wheat and pulses prices could lead farmers to plant less summer oilseeds in the northern states of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.