1.1 OILSEEDS
Oilseeds stand next only to foodgrains in agricultural
production and economy of the country. Bulk of the oilseeds and vegetable oils production
in the country is derived from the nine annual oilseed crops, i.e. Groundnut, soybean,
rapeseed and mustard, sunflower, sesamum, safflower, niger, castor and linseed.
The Mission’s integrated strategy from development of
production technologies to crop production, post harvest processing, price support and
marketing, implemented through four Mini – Missions had brought about near self
sufficiency in the edible oils. Within a decade the production of nine oilseeds was more
than doubled to 247.5 lakh tonnes by 1998-99 from the level of 109.3 lakh tonnes in
1985-86. This was brought about not only by increase in area but also by improving the
productivity from 569 kg per ha in 944 kg per ha. Imports of edible oils were brought down
from 18.2 lakh tonnes (value Rs.920 crore) to merely 1.1 lakh tonnes (value Rs.160 crore).
From major importer of edible oils till 1988-89, India became exporter of oilseeds
products. Exports of oilseeds products increased from Rs.1280 crore in 1995-96 to Rs.2680
crore in 1993-94. Most significant contribution in export came from soybean, deoiled meal
and castor oil. Soybean production increased significantly in the states of Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and castor production in Gujarat.
However, gradual lowering of duties on imports of edible oils
from 65% (1994) to 15% (1998) and liberalisation of imports of vegetable oils under WTO
regime, resulted in unbriddled imports of cheap vegetable oils in the country. Edible oil
imports increased from 1.4 lakh tonnes in 1993-94 to over 40 lakh tonnes in 1999-2000. The
unbriddled imports of cheap edible oils depressed the prices of domestic oilseeds. Low
market price and adverse weather conditions in major oilseeds growing states since
199-2000 to 2002-03 have adversely affected the production of oilseeds in the country. The
demand and supply gap in edible oils has increased significantly. There is a need for
urgent steps to increase production and productivity of oilseeds in the country through
mission mode approach. This requires addressing all the issues connected to the oilseeds
sector holistically in harmonized way right from development of production technologies to
processing and marketing supported by enabling policy environment. The diverse
agro-ecological conditions in the country offer an excellent opportunity for increasing
production and productivity of oilseeds.
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