Mains Marathon

Briefly introduce the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) Discuss the key features and objectives of the NMEO-OP. Conclude by briefly mentioning the overall positive impact this mission can have on reducing India's dependence on imported edible oils.

Answer:

India is a net importer of edible oils. To reduce this dependency, the government has launched a new scheme called National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). The scheme basically aims at self-reliance in edible oil.

The salient features and objectives of the NMEO-OP are:

• To increase the area of oil palm cultivation from 3.5 lakh hectares in 2019-20 to 10 lakh hectares by 2025-26, with a special focus on the North-Eastern states.
• To increase the production of crude palm oil (CPO) from 0.27 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26, which would reduce the import dependency on palm oil by about 20%.
• To increase the per capita availability of edible oil from 18.25 kg in 2020-21 to 19 kg by 2025-26, by increasing the domestic production of edible oilseeds and oils.
• To provide financial and technical assistance to farmers, state governments, cooperatives, and private sector for various interventions such as seed gardens, nurseries, drip irrigation, intercropping, processing, marketing, etc.
• To create awareness among consumers about the benefits of palm oil and its various uses in food and non-food sectors.

The NMEO-OP will help in reducing India’s dependence on imported edible oils by:

• Enhancing the domestic production and availability of edible oils, especially palm oil, which is the most consumed and imported edible oil in India.
• Saving foreign exchange and improving the trade balance by reducing the import bill of edible oils, which was around Rs. 80,000 crore in 2020-21.
• Promoting the development of the oil palm sector, which has immense potential to generate employment, income, and livelihood opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
• Improving the nutritional security and health of the population by providing access to quality and affordable edible oils.

The NMEO-OP is a promising endeavour to enhance domestic edible oil production and decrease reliance on imports. By embracing a multifaceted strategy and addressing challenges through diversification, sustainability, inclusivity, research, awareness, value addition, and policy support, the mission can effectively contribute to a more self-reliant and secure edible oil sector in India.