It is necessary to control the increasing expenditure on import of edible oils

23-Jun-2025 04:14 PM

New Delhi. Data from the Union Agriculture Ministry shows that over the last decade, there has been a strong rise in the domestic production of major oilseed crops such as mustard, soybean, and groundnut.

The total production of oilseeds increased by 55 percent between 2014–15 and 2024–25. However, data from the Commerce Ministry reveals that during the same period, the import of edible oils also saw a significant surge,

with the expenditure on imports rising to more than Rs 80,000 crore. In 2023–24 alone, 156.60 lakh tonnes of edible oil were imported, accounting for 56 percent of the country’s total domestic demand.

The growing volume and cost of edible oil imports have become such a concern that the Prime Minister, on the occasion of International Yoga Day on June 21, appealed to citizens to reduce their edible oil consumption by 10 percent.

The average annual per capita consumption of edible oil in India has increased well beyond the World Health Organization's recommended levels, contributing to rising obesity rates.

The Ministry of Agriculture has stated that the government is actively working towards making India self-reliant in oilseed and edible oil production and has launched several programs for this purpose.

Analysts believe that the rising population and higher per capita income are driving a rapid increase in the demand and consumption of edible oils, while the expected increase in oilseed production is lagging behind.

According to the third advance estimate of the Ministry of Agriculture, the country produced 426.09 lakh tonnes of oilseeds during the 2024–25 season.