Ishan BhatnagarAIR 5 · CSE 2025 · 184 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a figure
India imports more than 30% of its edible oil requirements from other countries despite substantial production of oilseeds.
Body · points
Reasons for import dependence
1.> Surging demand for edible oil owing to junk food culture and packaged snacks.
2.> Westernization of food habits.
3.> use of Palm oil in food processing etc -> Palm oil is not easily produced in India.
4.> Discretionary agricultural policy -> MSP oriented procurement limited to wheat, rice etc. -> limited land given to oilseeds.
5.> Volatile oil prices -> risk averse farmers prefer producing wheat and rice.
6.> Lack of nutritional literacy and health consciousness -> people prefer oily food.
Measures taken by government
- National mission for self sufficiency in oil seeds
- Nutritional education
- Rationalizing and diversifying procurement
- Income support to farmers -> PM KISAN
Issues
- Bias towards wheat and rice, even in arid regions suitable for oilseeds
- Demand outstrips supply
Way forward
Close · a way forward
1> Address demand-side factors: awareness generation and campaigns.
2> Legislation requiring disclosure of oil use in packaged products etc.
3> Incentivize more area under oilseeds by higher MSP, reliable procurement etc.