India targets 64% surge in edible oil output by 2032

To reduce dependence on imported edible oils, ten states, including Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, have launched summer cultivation of groundnut, sunflower, and sesame under the national edible oil mission. The initiative aims to increase domestic oilseed production, targeting a 64% rise by 2032.

To enhance oilseed production, ten states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, and Bihar, have started cultivating summer crops such as groundnut, sunflower, and sesame for the first time this season. This initiative is part of the national mission on edible oils.

Traditionally, oilseeds are grown during the kharif and rabi seasons. This year, over 1.11 lakh hectares have been covered under the summer oilseeds season (February-June). Officials expect that the summer-sown oilseeds will increase overall production, boosting both the area and availability of edible oil. “States have come up with proposals for setting up clusters for boosting oilseed output and setting up processing units in collaboration with private entities and farmers’ collectives,” an official stated.

The Rs 10,103 crore national edible oil mission aims to reduce edible oil import dependence from 57% to 28% by 2032. It focuses on increasing the production of primary oilseed crops like rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, soybean, sunflower, and sesame, while also enhancing the efficiency of collection and extraction from secondary sources such as cottonseed, rice bran, and tree-borne oils.

Under the mission, financial incentives are being provided to farmer producers’ organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and industry players to establish or upgrade post-harvest units through cluster development. This is in response to the rising import of cooking oils due to growing consumption and insufficient domestic production. In the 2023-24 oil year, edible oil imports amounted to Rs 1.31 lakh crore.

The government aims to increase edible oil production by 64%, reaching 20.18 million tonnes per year by 2032, up from 12.3 MT. Oilseeds output is expected to rise from 39.2 MT to 69.7 MT by 2032, with 27% of this increase coming from expanded area and most of the rest from new varietal development.

The government has identified 1.12 million hectares of rice fallow in several states for oilseed cultivation, and the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) will continue to ensure oilseed farmers receive MSP. Additionally, a 20% import duty on edible oils protects domestic producers and promotes local cultivation.