Piyush Kumar Singh

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.), which is cultivated throughout the world belongs to the family cruciferae (Brassicaeae) under the genus Brassica. This is the major Rabi season oilseed crop of North India containing 38-42% oil and 20-24% protein. India is the third largest rapeseed-mustard producer in the world after China and Canada with 19.80 per cent of world's total production (2016-17). In India, it is grown in the area of 5.79 mha with the major production of 6.31 mt and productivity of 1089 kg/ha (Statistical year book, 2016). Rape seed mustard cultivated in 26 states of the northern and eastern plains of the country, about 6.8 mha is occupied under these crops (2015-16).

The present study attempts to analyses the trend, growth rate and instability in terms of area, production and productivity of major crops in the districts of Azamgarh Division, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. The growth was examined by Compound growth rate and Simple growth rate. The time series data on area, production and productivity of major crops pertaining from "Sankhyakiya Patrika" to the period 2000-01 to 2014-15 were used for the study. The per-cent change was estimated based on triennium average for area, production and productivity. Graphical presentations have shown the trends in area, production and productivity of major crops.