New Delhi: In a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in edible oils, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds). This ambitious mission aims to bolster domestic oilseed production and reduce dependency on imports. Set to be implemented over seven years from 2024-25 to 2030-31, the initiative has a financial outlay of Rs 10,103 crore.
The NMEO-Oilseeds will focus on increasing the production of primary oilseed crops, such as rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, soybean, sunflower, and sesamum. It also aims to enhance extraction efficiency from secondary sources like cottonseed, rice bran, and tree-borne oils. By 2030-31, the mission aims to boost primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes in 2022-23 to 69.7 million tonnes, bringing India closer to fulfilling 72% of its edible oil demand domestically. This increase in production is part of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision, promoting agricultural growth and food security.
The Mission will achieve these goals by encouraging farmers to adopt high-yielding, high oil content seed varieties, expanding oilseed cultivation in rice fallow areas, and promoting intercropping. Modern technologies such as genome editing will be leveraged to develop better seed varieties, ensuring higher production efficiency.
To ensure the availability of quality seeds, the NMEO-Oilseeds will introduce a 5-year rolling seed plan through the ‘Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI)’ Portal. This platform will enable states to establish advanced agreements with seed-producing agencies, including cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and government or private seed corporations. The mission will set up 65 new seed hubs and 50 seed storage units across the public sector to improve seed production infrastructure.
Additionally, the mission will develop over 600 Value Chain Clusters across 347 districts, covering more than 10 lakh hectares annually. These clusters will be managed by value chain partners such as FPOs, cooperatives, and public or private entities. Farmers within these clusters will receive high-quality seeds, training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and advisory services on weather and pest management, ensuring higher yields and better resilience to climate variations.
Expanding oilseed cultivation by an additional 40 lakh hectares is another key goal of the mission. The government plans to target rice and potato fallow lands and promote crop diversification, further reducing pressure on land resources. Post-harvest support will also be extended to FPOs, cooperatives, and industry players to establish or upgrade processing units, enhancing recovery from sources like cottonseed, rice bran, corn oil, and Tree-Borne Oils (TBOs).
A robust Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign will be launched to raise awareness about recommended dietary guidelines for edible oils, promoting healthier consumption patterns among the public.
The NMEO-Oilseeds mission aims to drastically reduce India’s dependence on edible oil imports, saving valuable foreign exchange while boosting farmers’ incomes. Along with economic benefits, the mission is expected to have significant environmental advantages, including more efficient water usage, improved soil health, and the productive use of fallow lands. This initiative is poised to play a crucial role in advancing India’s agricultural sustainability and self-sufficiency in the edible oil sector.