Question : Production of Oilseeds

(a) whether the production of oilseeds in the country this year has failed to cope with the rising demand for cooking oil by the consumers;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the private and the Government agencies engaged in the business of soyabean and oilseeds have estimated less production of soyabean this year;

(d) if so, the facts thereof along with the reasons therefor;

(e) whether there is possibility of increase in annual edible oil import bill due to less production of soyabean in the country;

(f) if so, the facts thereof; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government to encourage farmers to promote edible oilseed production?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): Production of oilseeds during kharif, 2018 is estimated at 221.89 lakh tonnes, which is higher than the previous kharif oilseeds production during 2014-15 to 2017-18 as given below:
(Production in lakh tonnes)
Year Kharif Rabi Total
2014-15 192.21 82.90 275.11
2015-16 166.98 85.53 252.51
2016-17 215.26 97.50 312.76
2017-18* 209.96 103.12 313.08
2018-19** 221.89 - -
*4th Advance Estimates of DES, DAC&FW
**1st Advance Estimates of DES, DAC&FW
(kharif only)
Contd…2/-

-2-

However, the domestic production of oilseeds is not able to cope with rising demand of edible oils by consumers due to increase in per capita consumption of vegetable oils per annum over the years as per details given below:

Year Consumption per capita (kg per year)
2012-13 15.80
2014-15 18.30
2013-14 16.80
2015-16 19.10
2016-17 18.75
2017-18 19.30

(c) & (d): Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), Government of India has estimated soyabean production of 134.11 lakh tonnes for 2018-19 which is highest over the production of soyabean during previous four years as detailed below:

(lakh tonnes)
Year Production of soyabean
2014-15 103.74
2015-16 85.70
2016-17 131.59
2017-18* 109.42
2018-19** 134.11
*4th Advance Estimates of DES, DAC&FW
**1st Advance Estimates of DES DAC&FW (kharif only)

(e) & (f): Based on the current production trend of oilseeds, there may not be such possibility of increased oil import bill during current year.

(g): The Government of India is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, National Food Security Mission (NFSM) for Oilseeds & Oil Palm to increase production and productivity of oilseed crops including area expansion under oil palm.

Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided to the farmers through various incentives like distribution of newly released varieties of seeds, supply of seed minikits, block demonstrations including bee-keeping through State Governments, front line & cluster front line demonstrations through ICAR/SAUs-KVKs, farmers’ training, improved farm implements, micro-irrigation systems, water carrying pipes, seed storage bins, seed treatment drums, bio-pesticides, micronutrients, bio-fertilizers, bio-agents, small oil extraction unit etc.

Besides, Government of India announces Minimum Support Price (MSP) both for kharif and rabi oilseed crops well before crop season for the benefit of the farmers.

In order to ensure remunerative price to the farmers, Government of India has launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA) under which the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra , the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) for oilseeds and Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS) for oilseeds on pilot basis have been included.

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