Staff Reporter
The Union Cabinet today took several steps to boost the production of edible oils and reduce the dependence on import. Briefing media in New Delhi today, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said, the Cabinet took major decision to reduce import of Palm Oil and approved implementation of National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
He said, special focus will be laid on North East region and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He said the financial outlay will be more than 11 thousand crore rupees.
Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, the decision will boost the production of edible oils. He said, Centre is working with the States to increase the production of edible oils.
Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, the decision will boost the production of edible oils. He said, Centre is working with the States to increase the production of edible oils. Mr Tomar said, financial outlay of 11,040 crore rupees has been made for the scheme, out of which 8,844 crore rupees is the share of government of India and 2,196 crore rupees is the State share .
He further said, under this scheme, it is proposed to cover an additional area of 6.5 lakh hectare for oil palm till the year 2025-26 and thereby reaching the target of 10 lakh hectares ultimately.
The proposed scheme will subsume the current National Food Security Mission-Oil Palm programme. To give impetus to the North-East and Andaman, the Government will bear additional cost of 2 per cent of the Crude Palm Oil price to ensure that the farmers are paid at par with the rest of the country. To address the issue of shortage of planting material in the country, seed gardens will be provided assistance up to 80 lakhs rupees for 15 hectres in Rest of India and one crore rupees for 15 hectres in North-East and Andaman regions.