Disappointed over the Union Budget for ignoring the core issues faced by it, the oilseed sector demanded a special package from the Centre for the sector to increase the production and productivity and subsequently to reduce country’s dependency on imported edible oil.
Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEAI) has sent letters to finance minister P Chidambaram, minister of agriculture & consumer affairs, food and public distribution Sharad Pawar and minister for food processing industries Subodh Kant Sahai demanding package for oilseed sector to boost production and productivity for meeting the growing demand of vegetable oil in the country and check dependence on imported oil.
Ashok Sethia, president of SEAI said, “We would like to compliment the government for bringing out a pro-agriculture and pro-farmer Budget. Unfortunately, oilseed sector is left out. The oilseed production in the country is stagnant around 25-26 million tonne and productivity at 950 kg per hectare.”
In the recent Union Budget, the industry had pleaded to the government for the setting up of ‘Oilseed Development Fund’ to raise production and productivity.
“The Association has been pleading to the Central government since long to create an ‘Oilseeds Development Fund’ to increase local production on the lines of Sugar Development Fund. If creation of such fund is not possible, the government can allocate more funds to the ministry of agriculture to take up oilseed production in the country on a bigger scale to reduce import of edible oils,” he said.
The country heavily depends on import and 55 lakh tonne of vegetable oils at a cost of Rs.15, 000 crore is annually imported to bridge the demand-supply gap.
“Our dependence on import of vegetable oils has increased to over 45%. It is a matter of food security and the country cannot afford to depend so heavily on imports for such food items,” he said.