INDIA'S OILSEED REVOLUTION: A DECADE OF STRIDES TOWARDS SELF-RELIANCE AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY

Over the past decade, India has embarked on a transformative journey in its agricultural sector, with pronounced focus on oilseed.Between 2014-15 to 2024-25, oilseed production soared by 55%, from 275 lakh tonnes to 426 lakh tonnes, with a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 5%.

- PURNA CHANDRA KISHAN & RISHI KANT, ADDITIONAL

The area under oilseed cultivation expanded by 18%, from 25.60 million hectares to 30.27 million hectares, while productivity surged 31%, from 1,075 kg/ha to 1,408 kg/ha. Edible oil production itself climbed 44%, from 87 lakh tonnes to 123lakh tonnes, marking a significant leap toward food security and economic self-sufficiency.

Since 2014-15, India's oilseed sector has experienced a remarkable transformation across all key parameters. Production surged by 55%, rising from 275.1 lakh tonnes to 426.1 lakh tonnes, driven by the widespread adoption of high-yielding seed varieties, improved irrigation facilities, and sustained policy support from the government, consequently leading to increase in the edible oil production by 44%, from 87 lakh tonnes to 125lakh tonnes. The cultivated area expanded by 18%, from 256 lakh hectares to 302.7 lakh hectares, reflecting growing farmer confidence and strategic efforts to bring fallow and underutilized land into oilseed cultivation.

Productivity improvements were even more striking, with a 31% increase from 1,075 kg/ha to 1,408 kg/ha, driven by technological advancements and better farming practices. Key oilseed crops like rapeseed-mustard, soybean, and groundnut led the charge, with secondary sources like coconut, cottonseed, and rice bran bolstering output.

Empowering Farmers: The Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Procurement Revolution

A cornerstone of this agricultural transformation has been the substantial enhancement of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for oilseeds, ensuring farmers receive remunerative prices for their produce. The MSP for oilseeds saw dramatic hikes, with niger seed jumping 142.14% (from Rs 3,600/quintal to Rs 8,717/quintal), sesamum rising 101.46% (to Rs 9,267/quintal), and others like rapeseed-mustard (91.94%) and groundnut (69.58%) over 2014-15, ensuring farmers' incomes grew substantially, making oilseed cultivation profitable.