India imports 57% of its edible oil, exposing itself to global price fluctuations and supply disruptions
A NITI Aayog report stresses diversifying away from cereals to improve domestic oilseed production
Current subsidies favour paddy over oilseeds; a higher incentive of Rs 35,000 per hectare may be needed
Palm oil production has increased, but expansion must avoid deforestation; wasteland utilisation could be a solution
Edible oil demand may widen to 29.5 mt by 2030. Strategic interventions are needed to close the gap
Utilising fallow land and improving productivity could help India achieve self-sufficiency in edible oil by 2030