A push towards edible oil security

The National Mission on Edible Oils — Oil Palm has all the ingredients of a farmer-centric policy, tailored to the unique challenges of oil palm cultivation

- Purna Chandra Kishan & Rishi Kant

INDIA IS THE world's largest importer of cooking oils. That's not just a statistic—it's a strategic vulnerability. We consume over 27 million tonnes annually, with imports meeting nearly 57% of this demand. In 2023-24 alone, we imported around 16 million tonnes, over 60% of which was palm oil, mostly from Malaysia and Indonesia. This overreliance exposes us to price shocks, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical shifts—risks that have intensified in recent years. However, this presents an opportunity. The National Mission on Edible Oils — Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) is India's bold bid to pivot from import dependency to self-reliance. By decisively and sustainably scaling this mission, India can buffer its economy and contribute to reshaping global edible oil dynamics.

Oil palm cultivation in India has expanded steadily over the past three decades. From the modest 6,673 hectares in 1992-93, the area under oil palm has grown to more than 5 lakh hectares. This remarkable increase reflects growing recognition of oil palm as a strategic crop for reducing the country's dependence on imported edible oils. The expansion has been driven by improved awareness, technological interventions, and increased participation from farmers across several states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and many Northeast states, thanks to policy boost received from the NMEO-OP with budgetary support of ₹11,040 crore available under the mission.