(a) whether there has been a constant increase in the oilseed crushing capacity in the country during the last few years;
(b) if so, the average rate of increase during the last three years alongwith the details of the oilseed crushing capacity installed during 2004;
(c) whether there is a potential of increasing the oilseed crushing capacity in the country further;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the capacity utilization during the last three years?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH )
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): Consequent upon delicensing of vegetable oil sector, no precise figure about oilseed crushing capacity is available. The estimated annual crushing capacity of oilseeds is 425 lakh tonnes.
(c) & (d): The existing crushing capacity is far excess of the availability of raw material.
(e): The average percentage of capacity utilisation is around 30.