(a) whether the Government have released any funds to NAFED and other agencies to increase the
oilseeds production;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to reduce the gap between oilseed supply and demand
in the market;
(d) whether the farmers are switching over to other cash crops: and
(e) if so, the remedial steps being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) & (b): National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) Ltd. is a central nodal
agency to carry out the purchase operations of oilseeds on Minimum Support Prices (MSP). The State
Departments of Agriculture are the implementing agencies for the implementation of Oilseeds Production
Programme (OPP) to whom release of funds is made directly under Oilseeds Production Programme
(OPP). The States have flexibility to involve other agencies like State Oilseed Growers Federations,
State Seed Corporations and State Agricultural Universities and other Cooperative Organizations. Funds
are also provided to ICAR for production of breeder seeds and conducting frontline demonstrations.
(c): The country is not self sufficient in the production of oilseeds/edible oils and there is a gap
between demand and supply which is met through import of edible oils. To increase the production of
oilseeds in the country, a centrally sponsored Oilseeds Production Programme (OPP) is in
implementation in 28 States covering 408 selected districts. Under the programme, various incentives by
way of subsidy are being provided to the farmers in order to motivate them to take up oilseeds cultivation
on a large scale. Recently MSPs of various oulseeds have been increased to motivate the farmers for
undertaking the production of these crops on large scale.
(d): There is no report from any state about the switching over to other cash crops from oilseeds but
due to the inclement weather conditions the area under oilseed crops has shown a declining trend.
(e): To increase the area under oilseed crops as well as the production of oilseeds, financial
assistance by way of subsidy has been increased under various components of Oilseeds Production
Programme (OPP) from the year 2000-2001 and procurement of oilseeds is done under Price Support
Operation by NAFED when the market prices fall below MSP.