India launches national missions on edible oils and palm oil in bid to boost the country’s oilseed production

The Indian government has initiated two missions, focused on edible oils and palm oil, with the goal of enhancing food security and reducing reliance on imports. The National Mission of Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), set to run from 2024/25 to 2030/31, aims to increase edible oil production by expanding oil palm cultivation areas and improving yields. The government also plans to increase domestic production of key crops like mustard, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, and sesame, and increase oil extraction from secondary sources. The ultimate goal is to reduce India's palm oil imports, which currently account for about 56% of total edible oil imports, by about half over the next seven years.

The Indian government has launched two missions – on edible oils and palm oil – in a bid to ensure food security and end its reliance on imports, Policy Circle reported on 7 October. With a focus on increasing edible oil production from oil palm, the National Mission of Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) will run from 2024/25 to 2030/31. “Considering the growing domestic demand for edible oils, the staggering deficiency and the cost to the exchequer on account of imports, the urgency of scaling up the oil palm area is of national interest,” a statement on the government website said. “The aim [is] to enhance edible oilseeds production and oils availability in the country by harnessing oil palm area expansion, increasing crude palm oil (CPO) and reducing imports.” India produced 39M tonnes of oilseeds in 2022/23, but the government planned to increase this to 69.7M tonnes under the national oilseeds scheme, Policy Circle wrote. It also aimed to improve yields from 1,353 kg/ha to ...