Huge import of edible oils hinders self-sufficiency

23-Dec-2024 02:37 PM

The challenge of achieving self-sufficiency in edible oils in India is primarily hindered by the country's large-scale import of oils, including crude and refined palm oil, crude soybean oil, and crude sunflower oil.

Despite the government's efforts, such as the establishment of the 'National Mission on Edible Oil-Oilseeds' and the 'National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm,' these missions have faced slow progress, and the goal of self-sufficiency remains difficult to achieve.

A major issue is the low yield of domestic oilseed crops, which results in insufficient raw material for oil extraction.

Although oilseeds are grown on a large scale, the productivity is weak, preventing farmers from benefiting significantly.

This low yield is compounded by the influx of imported oils, which leads to unfair competition for domestic millers and reduces incentives for farmers to increase oilseed production.

Moreover, domestic oilseed prices often fall below the minimum support price, causing significant financial losses for farmers.

To address these challenges, India must focus on improving the yield of oilseed crops and expanding the area under cultivation.

The success of missions aimed at oilseed and oil palm cultivation will depend on accelerating these efforts and ensuring better support for farmers, both in terms of higher prices for their produce and increased incentives for cultivation.

Without addressing these foundational issues, achieving the objective of edible oil self-sufficiency will remain elusive.