Jaipur Strengthening coordination among the government, industry, research institutions and farmers will be crucial to making Rajasthan’s agriculture more productive, sustainable and profitable, experts said at the 4th Rajasthan Millet & Mustard Conclave 2026 organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at The Lalit, Jaipur, on Friday.
Held on the theme “Resilient Crops with Innovative Technologies,” the conclave focused on increasing mustard and millet productivity, promoting technology and research, strengthening value chains, improving processing and creating better market opportunities for farmers.
Manju Rajpal, IAS, Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Horticulture, Government of Rajasthan, said Rajasthan’s agricultural ecosystem has immense potential and stressed the need to take modern technology, research, quality hybrid seeds and innovation to farmers.
She said stronger partnerships among the government, agricultural scientists, industry, startups, FPOs and farmers can enhance productivity while creating better opportunities for market access and value addition. She added that the Rajasthan government is committed to promoting agro-processing and has announced the Rajasthan Food Park Development Policy 2026, with 39 locations already identified.
Surabhi Rana, South Asia Seed Marketing & Agronomy Director, Corteva Agriscience, said the real impact of agricultural technology can be achieved only when it reaches the ground and addresses farmers’ needs. She emphasised scaling proven technologies and best practices to strengthen productivity and the millet and mustard value chains.
Mustard Sector Report Released
During the inaugural session, the report “Unlocking the Potential of India’s Mustard Sector: Technology, Productivity and Farmer Prosperity” was released. Hema Yadav, Director, CCS National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), shared key findings from the report.
The report noted that farmers adopting hybrid seeds and modern agronomic practices recorded an estimated 12.9% increase in income and a 23% reduction in crop losses. It highlighted the potential for further gains in Rajasthan, India’s largest mustard-producing state, through wider adoption of hybrid seeds, scientific cultivation practices and stronger extension support.
The report also stressed that increased productivity alone is not sufficient. Better procurement, storage infrastructure, quality-based pricing and stronger linkages with processors are required to convert higher production into improved farmer incomes.
On the occasion of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, women farmers were recognised for their contribution to agriculture. A special Bajra Cake Cutting Ceremony was also organised with women farmers.
The inaugural session featured a welcome address by Akshay Hada, Member, FICCI Rajasthan State Council and CMD, Akshay Infrasys Industries Pvt. Ltd., while the vote of thanks was delivered by Atul Sharma, Director & Head, FICCI Rajasthan State Council.
Mustard: Focus on Research and Edible Oil Security
The first session, “Mustard: Research, Innovation & The Road to Edible Oil Security,” focused on improving mustard productivity through new technologies, improved seeds and research, along with processing, value-chain development and market opportunities.
Experts highlighted mustard’s importance to India’s edible oil security and emphasised strengthening the entire value chain from farmers and research institutions to processors, industry and markets. The availability of genuine and high-quality seeds was also identified as a key priority.
The session was moderated by Surabhi Rana and featured K.M. Kumawat, Deputy Director, ISOPOM; Dr. Bhupesh Vaid, EZ Lead, Millet and Mustard, Corteva Agriscience; Dr. Hema Yadav, Director, CCS NIAM; Dr. Manoj Murarka, President, National Oil and Trade Association; and progressive mustard farmer Hanuman Gurjar.
Agricultural Diversification and New Markets
The second session, “Diversifying Rajasthan’s Agriculture Economy – New Opportunities, Markets & Value Chains,” explored ways to diversify the state’s agricultural economy through new markets, value addition and food processing.
Industry perspectives were shared by G.J.V. Murali Mohan, General Manager – South Asia Region, FAMSUN Oils & Fats Engineering, and Ved Prakash Yadav, Assistant Professor, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner.
Millets: From Farm to Market
The third session, “Millets: From Resilient Crop to Market-Led Growth,” focused on connecting millet production with food processing, value addition, institutional procurement and domestic and international markets.
The session was moderated by Khushrow Chinoy, Associate Director, Food and Agri Consulting, PwC Pvt. Ltd. The panel included Dr. Suresh Kumar Yadav, Assistant Director, Directorate of Millets Development, DA&FW, MoA&FW, Government of India; Vishalakshi Vuyyala, Director, Minkan Agro Industries Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. Tanushree Singh, Founder and CEO, Bazic Food Studio; Rajaram Gurjar, Farmer; and Pushpendra Singh Rathore, Branch Manager – Rajasthan & Gujarat, ITC Limited.
The conclave concluded with experts emphasising the need to bring technology, research, farmer experience and market requirements onto a common platform. They stressed that innovation, stronger value chains and improved market linkages for resilient crops such as mustard and millets can create new opportunities for farmers and support the development of a more sustainable and modern agricultural sector in Rajasthan.