The projected shortfall of edible oil in the country in oil year 2015-16 is 15.5 million tonnes (mt), Parliament was informed today.
The oil seeds production in the country during 2015-16 oil year (November-October) is estimated at 26.3 mt while the estimated edible oil production in the same period is 9.5 mt, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
"To meet demand in the country, the import of edible oils has been allowed under open general licence (OGL), and import duty on edible oils is reviewed from time to time," Paswan added.
Export of edible oil has been banned since March 2008 with some exceptions.
In order to increase production of oil seeds and hence edible oil, a national mission on oil seeds and oil palm (NMOOP) is being implemented in the country since 2014-15 by the Department of Agriculture.
NMOOP comprises three mini-missions -- one each on oil seeds, oil palm and tree-borne oils. Under this mission, assistance is being provided to farmers to increase oil seed production.
