Government Says Pulses, Oilseeds Production Rising As MPs Express Concern Over Imports

The government has told a parliamentary committee that domestic production of pulses and edible oils has risen at a greater pace in the last 10 years than the decade before, amid concerns raised by MPs over India's dependence on imports to meet demand.

A presentation to the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing said imports at 15.66 million metric tonnes (MMT) accounted for 56% of the domestic demand for edible oils in 2023-24 Sources said the agriculture ministry, however, in the meeting on June 20 emphasised the work being undertaken for self-sufficiency in the sector and noted that oilseeds production had risen by 55% between 2014-15 and 2024-25, with third advance estimate pegging its production at 426.09 lakh tonnes in the last fiscal.

The corresponding increase was 13% between 2004-05 and 2014-15. With the country almost entirely dependent on imports to meet the palm oil demand, some MPs flagged health hazards associated with the relatively cheap edible oil, sources said.

The ministry said India's heavy dependence on edible oil imports is costing more Rs 80,000 crore annually. Based on the 2023-24 figure shared by the ministry in its presentation, India's domestic production was sufficient to meet the requirement of mustard and groundnut oils but had to import 3.49 MMT of sunflower oil against the consumption of 3.55 MMT. It also imported more than 60% of its soyabean oil consumption.

The presentation on pulses said their production rose by 47% between 2014-15 and 2024-25, a period marked by the continuing BJP-led NDA government, against 31% in 2004-14, when the Congress-led UPA was in power.

MPs in the meeting called for incentivising farmers growing paddy and wheat to shift to pulses and other crops. The ministry spoke in detail about the government's roadmap to achieve 'aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in pulses and oilseeds production by 2030-31, programmes unveiled in this year's budget.

Among the challenges in boosting pulse production, the ministry noted that 75% of these crops are rainfed and grown on marginal lands with low fertility by small and marginal farmers.

The sources said the presentation also touched on the nationwide campaign for "optimal utilization of edible oils and its health benefits" following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a 10% cut in their intake for overall fitness.