Context: The Union Ministry of Agriculture has launched its first-ever survey to assess edible oil consumption patterns in India, aiming to effectively implement the new Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds).
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Questions about Palm oil and edible oil data of India; National Mission for edible-oil.
Major Highlights of the Survey:
- The Survey involved a 45 days questionnaire from the various stakeholders like consumers and distributors of edible oil.
- Aim: To capture the consumption pattern and choice of edible oils, which will help in policy decisions.
- Behavioural analysis:
- The survey also analyses the behaviour pattern and influence of advertisement, labelling and willingness to pay for premium oils.
- The survey also explores various aspects like deep-frying frequency, seasonal usage pattern and factors influencing oil selection.
- Need for the survey: Report indicates that there is a rise in per capita consumption of the edible oils to over 20kg in India. This reflects the lifestyle and health risks as Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) recommends per capita consumption should be less than 12 Kg.
Significance of the Survey
- Evaluating pattern: Help in understanding the pattern of consumption of edible oils in India, as India is the largest consumer of oil in the world.
- Policy formulation: Understanding consumption patterns will help in regulation of production and import of edible oils by effective policy formulation (implementation of NMEO-Oilseeds).
- Controlling advertisement: By understanding the impact of advertisement on buying patterns of consumers, the government can take effective measures to counter fake claims in edible oil advertisements by companies.
- Preventive measures: The survey will allow the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to launch an awareness campaign to counter negative health implications of consumption on health.
Issues in Indian Edible Oil Sector
- Import dependency: India imports 55-60% of its edible oil requirement from nations Indonesia, Malaysia, Ukraine, etc.
- Dominance of Palm Oil: Palm oil dominates the consumption with 38% share in Indian edible oil consumption.
- Health challenges: Rise in oil consumption and prevalence of fast-foods raised oil consumption in India is leading to negative health implications.
Suggestive measures
- Diversification of oilseed by replacing the Palm oil with other oilseeds like sesame and groundnut oil. It is beneficial for the balance of trade and health of consumers.
- Promoting oil seed cultivation. More efforts like fund devolution and capacity building of farmers to cultivate oil seeds. E.g., National Mission for Edible-Oils Oilseeds programme.
- Awareness: Dedicated campaign on the lines of DASH eating plan that emphasises more on the fruits and vegetable consumption by replacing edible oils from diet.
- Strengthening norms: Government should make trans-fat norms more stringent under the Eat Right Campaign in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
- In India the trans-fat limit is 2% while as per WHO it should not be more than 1%.
About National Mission for Edible-Oils Oilseeds programme
- The National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) is a dedicated initiative for boosting oilseed production in India.
- Aim: To boost domestic oilseed production and achieve self-reliance in edible oils.
- Implementation Period: 2024-25 to 2030-31
- Financial outlay: Rs 10,103 crores
- Scheme has the following targets:
- Increasing oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31.
- Focus on crops like Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, and Sesamum, as well as improving extraction from secondary sources.
- Promote high-yielding seed varieties, rice fallow cultivation, and intercropping, aiming to meet 72% of domestic edible oil needs by 2030-31.