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The National Edible Oil-Oilseeds Mission provides free seeds to farmers, boosting oilseed production and reducing import dependence.
The Indian government has launched the National Edible Oil-Oilseeds Mission to boost oilseed production and reduce the dependency on imports. Under this mission, farmers will receive free advanced seeds for growing oilseed crops like soybean, mustard, groundnut, sunflower, and sesame.
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The mission aims to support farmers by providing multiple benefits, including:
Additionally, processing units will receive financial aid through the Agri Infra Fund. Farmer’s producer organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and private industries will also be supported in improving seed collection and oil processing units.
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Due to increased efforts, the sowing of oilseed crops has seen a rise. In the 2024 Kharif season, oilseed crops were sown over 193.84 lakh hectares, which is about 3 lakh hectares more than the previous year. Crops like soybean, groundnut, and sunflower were planted more, while sesame and castor saw a slight decrease.
India is a major importer of edible oil, with around 165 lakh tonnes imported in the 2022-23 financial year. Currently, only 40-45% of edible oil is produced domestically, while the rest is imported. Last year, India spent ₹1,23078 crore on edible oil imports.
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The National Edible Oil-Oilseeds Mission will increase oilseed production, making India more self-reliant. The government's goal is to raise oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31. This will reduce the need for imports, saving the country significant money. Farmers will also benefit from free seeds, better facilities, and higher prices for their oilseed crops.
The government has announced the minimum support prices for oilseed crops in 2024-25 as follows:
By increasing oilseed production, this mission will not only help farmers but also strengthen India's agriculture economy.
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The National Edible Oil-Oilseeds Mission is a crucial step toward self-sufficiency in edible oil production. By providing free seeds and support to farmers, the scheme will boost oilseed yields, reduce import dependency, and benefit the economy while ensuring better income opportunities for farmers across India.