A Cultivated Bonanza
Groundnut is by far the most dominant oilseed crop, accounting for 38.56 per cent of total output, followed by rapeseed/mustard which account for 27.45 per cent.
Although other oils play a relatively lesser role, soyabean and sunflower oils have, of late, emerged as major potential growth areas. The agriculture ministry expects soyabean output to outrank rapeseed/mustard in the next few years.
The burgeoning growth in oilseeds production has its roots in the oilseeds technology mission, which was set up under the Rajiv Gandhi government in May 1986. The mission had a clearly-defined brief: to produce 16.5 million of oilseeds in 1989-90; cut edible oil imports by half in five years and raise oilseed output in the long run to 26 million tonne by 2000.
The mission adopted a two-pronged strategy: introducing modern technology and increasing procurement prices to growers to motivate them to expand area under oilseed crops. This did the trick. The short-term objectives have already been met. Edible oil imports, which touched Rs 10,000 crore annually in the pre-yellow revolution days, have fallen to a trickle. The country is now almost self-sufficient in vegetable oils and oilseeds. At worst, edible oil imports are used chiefly as a price-control measure.
Currently, the Agricultural Finance Corporation is evaluating the programmes being implemented by the mission. The oilseed production programme, which aims at improving oilseeds availability in the country, is being implemented in 331 districts in 22 states.
Efforts are also underway to expand the country's oilseed basket by introducing oil palm cultivation. The target is to bring about 80,000 hectares under oil palm by the end of the current plan. Of this, Andhra Pradesh is expected to account for about 50,000 hectares, Karnataka 20,000 hectares and other states 10,000 hectares.
Oil palm cultivation has been catching on in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Kerala has recently submitted a proposal to the Centre for oil palm plantation on about 200 hectares in Karilands as a demonstration project in Kottayam district. The Centre has advised Kerala to take up this project in the ninth plan, beginning 1998.