(a) whether the country is self-sufficient in the production of indigenous edible oils;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the steps Government have taken to make the country self-sufficient in edible oils; and
(d) the details of edible oil production during the last year and also in the current year, till date, State-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI V. SREENIVASA PRASAD )
(a): No, Sir.
(b): Does not arise.
(c): Some of the steps taken/efforts made to increase the indigenous production of oilseeds
and hence of edible oils are:-
(i) Centrally Sponsored Oilseeds Production Programme is in implementation in 25 States covering
395 selected districts to increase the production of oilseeds/edible oils in the country.
(ii) A Technology Mission on Oilseeds was established in May 1986 for harnessing the best
production, processing and management technology.
(iii) Intensification of research efforts for increasing production of oilseeds.
(iv) Increasing the areas under non-traditional oilseeds crops like soyabean and sunflower,
exploitation of oilseeds of tree and forest origin, ricebran etc..
(v) Setting up of necessary processing and infrastrucural facilities to keep pace with the
production programme of oilseeds.
(vi) Assistance for oil palm development.
(vii) Better incentive to producers through fixation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) of major
oilseeds.
(viii) Use of indigenous oils in the manufacture of vanaspati to at least 25% of the production
on a monthly basis has been made mandatory. Also higher use of expeller mustard oil in the
manufacture of vanaspati up to 30% has also been allowed. The objective is to incentivise the
farmers in terms of better returns for their produce.
(ix) In order to harmonise the interests of domestic oilseeds growers, consumers and processors
and to regulate large import of edible oils to the extent possible, the duty structure on
edible oils is revised from time to time.
(d): Data relating to State-wise annual production of edible oils (supply) is not maintained.
However, the production of edible oils (supply) during the last year (2000-2001) has been
55.05 lakh M.T. On the basis of advance estimates given by Ministry of Agriculture, the
production of edible oils (net availability) during the current year (2001-2002) is estimated
to 63 Lakh MT approximately.