(a) whether import of Oil seeds and rice has adversely affected the farmers;
(b) whether oil seed and rice growing farmers are switching over to cultivate other profitable crops; and
(c) if so, the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to promote and encourage production of oil seeds to protect the interests of Indian farmers?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SBPBK SATYANARAYANA RAO)
(a)to(c) In the case of oilseeds the farmers are definitely affected due to large import of edible oils in the country. However, in the case of rice there has not been much impact and in fact the country has achieved a higher production as compared to the last year. In the case of oilseeds, there is no report from any of the oilseeds growing states for shifting of oilseeds area to other crops. In order to increase the production of oilseeds and to protect the interest of farmers, a Centrally Sponsored Oilseeds Production Programme (OPP) is in implementation in 25 States covering 397 selected districts. Under the scheme, various incentives by way of subsidy on critical inputs are being provided to the farmers. Moreover, the Government of India has been announcing the Minimum Support Prices of Oilseed crops every year well before the sowing season of oilseed crops and NAFED is the central nodal agency to carry out the purchase operations of oilseed grower`s produce on the MSP in case the market prices of oilseeds fall below the Minimum Support Price.