India, The World’s Second Largest Oil Consuming Country, where production wise it stands in fourth position after United states, Brazil and China. India roughly consumes around 22-23 million tonne of edible oil annually, where 57 % of the country’s edible oil demand relies on imports, to transform this scenario in future, and to address this dependance and  India to achieve self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oil sector, National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds), a milestone initiative was approved by the Union Cabinet on October 3,2024.  The mission is to be implemented from 2024-25 to 2030-31, with a total cost of 1.1 million crore INR.

The primary functions of the Mission are:

• To boost the production of major oilseeds such as Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean and Sunflower and Sesamum. To Increase production from present 39 million tonne to 69.7 million tonne by 2030-31.
• Increase collection and extraction efficacy from secondary sources like Cottonseed, Rice Bran & Tree Borne Oils.
• Increase Oil production to 25.4 million tonne by 2030-31, meeting 72 % of domestic requirement.
• Promote High Yielding High Oil content varieties, extending cultivation into rice fallow area and promote intercropping.
• Develop 660 value chains in 347 unique districts managed by private and public entities.
• To expand oilseed cultivation by additional 40 lakh hectares

In Conclusion, National Mission on Edible Oil-Oilseed is aimed at transforming India’s edible oil sector by significantly boosting domestic oilseed production, improving extraction efficiency, and expanding cultivation areas, in order to reduce foreign dependency.

 

Source: Press Information Bureau, Business Standard, Times of India.