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Oilseed extractors want GM crop for reducing dependence on imports

India at present imports over 13 million tonnes of edible oils annually and this largely comprises crude palm oil and soybean oil.

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SEA said India's average per hectare yield of major oilseeds is over 50 per cent lower than average world yields in several crops.

Sanjeeb Mukherjee New Delhi

2 min read Last Updated : Aug 21 2020 | 12:51 AM IST

The Solvent Extractors Association (SEA), a lobby group of domestic oilseed extractors, has demanded the introduction of genetically modified oilseed crops to boost the country's local production by 15-20% and lower its reliance on imported edible oil.

It made the suggestion in a presentation to Union food secretary as part of the action plan to raise domestic edible output and cut down dependence on imports.

SEA also said that the minimum support price of oilseeds should be kept reasonably high to encourage farmers to grow more oilseeds domestically and the much-talked about import duty on edible oils should be linked

Topics : GM crops oilseeds

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