India, currently a net importer of edible oil with 57% sourced from foreign countries, faces significant forex drain amounting to 20.56 billion USD. To mitigate this, the nation prioritizes self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in edible oil production, particularly through the promotion of oilseeds and palm oil cultivation.
During a recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s commitment to self-reliance in edible oil production. He highlighted the Mission Palm Oil, a special campaign focused on the Northeast region, and inaugurated the first oil mill under this mission. “Mission Palm Oil will make India Aatmanirbhar in the edible oil sector and boost the income of farmers,” the Prime Minister affirmed, expressing gratitude to farmers for embracing palm cultivation.
The Government of India launched the National Mission for Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in August 2021, aiming to escalate oil palm cultivation and elevate Crude Palm Oil production to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26. The scheme, operational in 15 states covering a potential area of 21.75 lakh hectares, has already established 111 nurseries and 12 seed gardens to facilitate area expansion.
Mission Palm Oil provides comprehensive support to farmers, including assistance in planting material, assured buyback from private players, and protection against global price volatility through viability gap payment (VGP). The government has increased the viability price of oil palm to Rs. 13,652, providing additional incentives for cultivation.
Aside from the VGP benefits, NMEO-OP provides additional support to farmers, offering Rs. 70,000 per hectare for planting material & management, Rs. 2,90,000 for acquiring harvesting tools, and Rs. 25 lakh for setting up custom hiring centers (CHC).
Moreover, as part of the mission, processing companies set up One-Stop Centers for oil palm farmers. These centers provide various services including supplying inputs, offering custom hiring services, providing farm advisories, and facilitating the collection of farmers’ produce.
This visionary initiative underscores the government’s commitment to economic growth, farmer empowerment, and sustainable self-reliance in edible oil production. The NMEO-OP represents India’s steadfast determination to achieve self-sufficiency in this vital sector, paving the way for a more resilient and prosperous future.
