Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Significance of NMEO-Oilseeds;
Why in the News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) to enhance domestic oilseed production and attain self-sufficiency in edible oils.
About the Newly Launched NMEO-Oilseeds:
- Aim: Boost domestic oilseed production, achieve self-reliance in edible, and boost farmers’ incomes. Currently, imports account for 57% of India’s domestic demand for edible oils.
- Focus: It will focus on increasing edible oil production from Oil Palm by enhancing the production of key primary oilseed crops (Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, and Sesamum)
- Increasing collection and extraction efficiency from secondary sources (Cottonseed, Rice Bran, and Tree Borne Oils).
- Tenure: 7 years (from 2024-25 to 2030-31)
Roadmap for the Mission:
- Increase Edible Oil Production: Achieve 25.45 million tonnes of domestic edible oil production by 2030-31, meeting 72% of domestic demand.
- Seed Infrastructure: It will introduce an online 5-year rolling seed plan through the Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI) portal to ensure timely availability of seeds.
- Seed Hubs & Storage: Establish 65 new seed hubs and 50 seed storage units to strengthen seed production infrastructure.
- Value Chain Clusters: Develop over 600 value chain clusters across 347 districts, covering 10 lakh hectares annually. These clusters will focus on providing high-quality seeds and promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Other Initiatives by the Government:
- National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP): Launched in 2021 with a budget of Rs 11,040 crore to boost oil palm cultivation.
- Import Duties: A 20% import duty on edible oils has been imposed to protect domestic producers from cheap imports and encourage local oilseed cultivation.
- MSP & PM-AASHA: The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for mandated edible oilseeds has been increased, and the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) ensures oilseed farmers receive MSP through price support and deficiency payment schemes.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Research and Development: Invest in research initiatives focused on developing climate-resilient, high-yield oilseed varieties through advanced technologies like genome editing.
- Enhance Farmer Engagement and Training: Implement comprehensive training programs for farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and effective resource management.
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