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| Enhancing Edible Oil Production in India: A Comprehensive Overview |
The Indian rapeseed industry has experienced a notable surge of 7% in output compared to the previous year, with a yield of 12.09 million metric tons in 2024. This increase is primarily attributed to the expansion of the cultivation area for the crop. As the world's largest importer of vegetable oil, India stands to reduce its reliance on edible oil imports significantly due to this development. Despite facing challenges such as unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms in February–March 2024, the increased yields indicate a promising trend for the sector.
Government Initiatives for Improved Yield:
Various centrally sponsored schemes, such as the 'National Food Security Mission – Oilseeds and Oil Palm,' have been instrumental in enhancing edible oil production rates. These schemes offer incentives and subsidies to farmers through state governments, facilitating the purchase of high-quality seeds, seed storage bins, equipment for plant protection, and technology transfer components.
Rising Demand in Edible Oil Sector:
Driven by factors like urbanization, population growth, and rising per capita income levels, the demand for edible oils continues to escalate. This trend is expected to lead to significant growth in the edible oil industry in the coming years, attracting substantial investments in the sector.
Self-Sufficiency in Edible Oil Production:
India aims to boost domestic oil production and reduce import dependency significantly. Notably, the allocation of INR 11,040 crore in the 2021 budget to promote edible oil seed cultivation in the northeastern region underscores this commitment. The National Mission on Edible Oils has outlined plans to expand oil palm acreage by 1 million hectares by 2026.
Recommendations for Improvement:
To further enhance edible oil production, India can implement a series of schemes and initiatives. This includes reducing the basic duty on crude palm oils to stimulate production and lowering agricultural cess rates to 5% from the current 7.5% to encourage higher yields. Additionally, cuts in basic duty on refined edible oils could serve to bolster production rates in the country.
By leveraging government initiatives and addressing key challenges, India is poised to strengthen its position in the global edible oil market and achieve greater self-sufficiency in production.
These notes provide a comprehensive overview of the Indian rapeseed industry's recent developments, government initiatives, rising demand, and strategies for enhancing domestic production of edible oils.