(a) whether palm oil is being imported from abroad in a big way;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years;
(c) the efforts being made by the Government to reduce this import;
(d) whether the use of mustard and soyabean oils can be promoted in place of palm oil and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the efforts being made by the Government to increase the use of indigenously produced mustard and soyabean oils?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a) & (b): More than 80 lakh MT of Palm Oil has been imported per year in the country (crude & Refined) during the last three years as per details given below-
Year 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Quantity
(In Lakh MT) 82.98 94.45 88.59
(Source: Department of Commerce)
(c): To reduce the import of edible oils in the country, the Government has focused upon increasing production and productivity of oilseeds and area expansion under Oil Palm & Tree Borne Oilseeds for enhancing domestic availability of edible oils.
(d) & (e): National Mission on Oil Seed and Oil Palm (NMOOP) had been launched by the Government from 2014-15 for increasing production and productivity of Oilseed crops including mustard and soybean in the country. The scheme is now merged with National Food Security Mission from 2018-19 as NFSM-Oilseeds & Oil Palm. The Government has placed import of refined palm oil in the ‘restricted’ category with effect from 8th January, 2020. This is likely boost consumption of our domestically produced oils in this country.
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