Despite increase in oilseeds production in last four years, India is dependent on imports
Although India’s oilseeds production grew by 19 per cent between 2018-19 and 2021-22, it still relies on imports of the commodity to meet more than 60 per cent of domestic demand.
According to the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs, India produced 31.52 million tonnes of oilseeds in 2018-19, a growth of 19 per cent to 37.15 million tonnes in 2021-22.
In fact, the country’s oilseeds production has increased significantly in the last four years, as it stood at 33.22 million tonnes in 2019-20 and 35.95 million tonnes in 2020-21.
Even as per the second advance estimates of the Directorate of Economic and Statistics, the estimated production of soybean stood at 13.12 million tonnes during 2021-22 as compared to the production of 12.61 million tonnes during 2020-21.
Yet due to dependence on import of oilseeds and various types of edible oils, India is facing shortage of supply of these essential commodities and the government has been asked to launch surprise checks and inspection campaigns to prevent hoarding and black marketing of these items. was forced to. Raids are also being conducted to control the rise in prices of these items.
Russia and Ukraine, countries currently engaged in war, are the two major suppliers of sunflower oil to India. Soybean oil, sunflower oil and palm oil prices have risen sharply in the past two months due to their short supply, due to geopolitical tensions triggered by the conflict.
According to official data, there has been a sharp jump in average retail prices of soybean oil, sunflower oil and palm oil in the last three months.
The average retail price of sunflower oil as on April 4 is Rs 184.58 per kg as compared to Rs 161.71 per kg on January 1, 2022.
Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey had said on Monday that a central team along with state government officials is conducting inspections in various oilseeds and edible oil producing states.
Large states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are now being covered, he said, adding that the campaign would be intensified in the coming days.
The senior official also informed that the government has already cut import duty on edible oils, increased stock holding limits and ensured speedy clearance of ships at ports besides facilitating imports through private traders.