Context:
The Union agriculture ministry has launched its first-ever survey to assess edible oil consumption patterns in India, aiming to effectively implement the new Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds).
National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds)
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds), a landmark initiative aimed at boosting domestic oilseed production and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oils.
- Timeline: Seven years (2024-25 to 2030-31).
- Budget: ₹10,103 crore.
- Objective: Boost domestic oilseed production and reduce dependence on imports to achieve Atmanirbhar Bharat in edible oils.
Recent Update
Edible Oil Consumption Survey: A Strategic Initiative by the Union Agriculture Ministry
Overview of the Survey
- Purpose: Assess edible oil consumption patterns to guide the effective implementation of the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds).
- Duration: A 45-day initiative, running from January 9 to February 23, 2025.
- Rationale: India lacks updated data on edible oil consumption despite being the world’s largest consumer and importer of edible oils.
Mission Objectives:
- NMEO-Oilseeds, with a ₹10,103 crore financial outlay, aims to increase domestic oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes (2030-31).
- Reduce dependence on edible oil imports, which currently meet 55-60% of demand.
Focus Areas
- Primary Crops: Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, and Sesamum.
- Secondary Sources: Cottonseed, Rice Bran, and Tree Borne Oils (TBOs).
- Target: Increase primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31.
- Edible Oil Goal: Achieve 25.45 million tonnes of domestic edible oil production, fulfilling 72% of the projected requirement.
Strategy Points
- HighYielding Seeds
- Promote seed varieties with more oil content and utilize genome editing and advanced technology in the globe.
- Ensure 65 hubs and 50 storage units come up in public sector.
- Scale up Cultivation
- Increase oil seed cultivation on Rice and Potato follow lands by addition of 40 lakh hectares.
- Intensify intercropping and diversification for productivity gain.
- Infrastructure Development
- Over 600 Value Chain Clusters in 347 districts over 10 lakh hectares annually.
- Clusters to be managed by FPOs cooperatives and private .public entities
- Support for Post Harvest Units
- Upgrade postharvest infrastructure for better recovery from cottonseed rice bran corn oil and TBOs.
- 5 Digital Enablement
- Launch the SATHI portal for a 5 year rolling seed plan enabling states to collaborate with seedproducing agencies.
- Farmer Empowerment
- Training farmers in Good Agricultural Practices GAP and pest weather management.
- Remunerative price through MSP will be assured to farmers under programmes like PM AASHA etc.
- Consumer Education
- Campaigns of IEC for bringing dietary guidelines towards healthier consumption are developed.
Importances and Incentives
- Economic Impact
- Bring down Indias dependence on importing edible oil.
- Save foreign exchange and increase farmers’ earnings.
- Crop Development
- Productivity by better seeds and higher cultivation.
- Agriculture would be sustained by reduced water usage and soil health improvement.
- Environmental Benefits
- Better fallow land usage and lower environmental footprint.
- Competitiveness at the Global Level
- Strengthen India as an important player in the edible oils market.
Background Context
- India imports over half of its edible oil requirement which means it relies more on other countries like Indonesia Malaysia and Ukraine.
- Previous initiatives included the National Mission on Edible Oils Oil Palm NMEOOP and 20 import duty on edible oils to counter this dependency.
- NMEO Oilseeds is a transformative mission to transform India into becoming self-sufficient in edible oil production.
- To be achieved with the harnessing of state-of-the-art technologies in empowering farmers by practicing sustainable agricultural practices.
- It is landmark towards the goal in Vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat while achieving a robust edible oil sector self-sufficiency.
