The strategy to implement the proposed Mission includes
increasing Seed Replacement Ratio (SRR) with focus on Varietal Replacement;
increasing irrigation coverage under oilseeds from 26% to 36%;
diversification of area from low yielding cereals crops to oilseeds crops; inter-cropping of oilseeds with cereals/ pulses/ sugarcane;
use of fallow land after paddy /potato cultivation;
expansion of cultivation of Oil Palm and tree borne oilseeds in watersheds and wastelands;
increasing availability of quality planting material enhancing procurement of oilseeds and collection; and
processing of tree borne oilseeds.
Inter-cropping during gestation period of oil palm and tree borne oilseeds would provide economic return to the farmers when there is no production.
The scheme would be implemented in mission mode through active involvement of all the stakeholders.
The Centre and States will bear costs in the ratio of 75:25.
Fund flow would be strictly monitored to ensure that benefit of the Mission reaches the targeted beneficiaries in time to achieve the results.
India is among major oilseed growers and edible oil importers. India’s vegetable oil economy is world’s fourth largest after USA, China and Brazil.
The diverse agro-ecological conditions in the country are favourable for growing 9 annual oilseed crops, which include 7 edible oilseeds (groundnut, rapeseed & mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, safflower and niger) and two non-edible oilseeds (castor and linseed). Oilseeds cultivation is undertaken across the country in about 27 million hectares mainly on marginal lands, of which 72% in confined to rainfed farming.
Oil palm is a comparatively new crop in India and is the highest vegetable oil yielding perennial crop.
With quality planting materials, irrigation and proper management, there is potential of achieving 20-30 MT Fresh Fruit Bunches per ha after attaining age of 5 years.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to intensify efforts for area expansion under oil palm to enhance palm oil production in the country.
Tree-borne oilseeds (TBOs), like sal, mahua, simarouba, kokum, olive, karanja, jatropha, neem, jojoba, cheura, wild apricot, walnut, tung etc. are cultivated or grow wild in the country under different agro-climatic conditions. These TBOs are also good source of vegetable oil and therefore need to be supported for cultivation.
At present, the programme is being implemented in 12 States, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. Mizoram, Odisha, Kerala, Telangana. Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland & Assam. Nearly 133 districts are under oil palm cultivation in these 12 states, However, all the potential states of Oil palm are covered under NMOOP.
