Why in News?

• The Government is implementing the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – Oilseeds and Oil Palm to increase production of oilseeds and domestic availability of Edible Oils.

NFSM – Oilseeds and Oil Palm:

• This scheme is under implementation in 29 States and has three subcomponents namely, Oilseeds, Oil palm and Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs).
• The main objective is to increase oilseeds production & productivity and area expansion under oil palm & TBOs cultivation.

Objectives of NFSM:

• Increasing the production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals (maize and barley) and nutri-cereals through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country.
• Restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level.
• Enhancing farm level economy (i.e. farm profits) to restore confidence amongst the Farmers.

Oilseeds Agriculture in India:

• India is one of the major oilseeds grower and importer of edible oils.
• India’s vegetable oil economy is the world’s fourth-largest after USA, China & Brazil.
• Oilseeds account for 13% of the Gross Cropped Area, 3% of the Gross National Product and 10% value of all agricultural commodities.
• The diverse agro-ecological conditions in the country are favourable for growing 9 annual oilseed crops, which include 7 edible oilseeds (groundnut, rapeseed & mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, safflower and niger) and two non-edible oilseeds (castor and linseed).
• Oilseeds cultivation is undertaken across the country in about 27 million hectares mainly on marginal lands, of which 72% is confined to rain-fed farming.
• During the last few years, the domestic consumption of edible oils has increased substantially and has touched the level of 18.90 million tonnes in 2011-12 and is likely to increase further.
• A substantial portion of our requirement of edible oil is met through import of palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia.