**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 399, concerning a reported shift by farmers from oilseed cultivation to maize due to low domestic oilseed prices, potentially undermining the government's oil self-reliance goals. The response, provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, refutes the premise of a decline in oilseed cultivation. Data from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW)'s third advance estimates indicate an increase in oilseed cultivation area from 301.92 lakh hectares in 2023-24 to 302.65 lakh hectares in 2024-25. Oilseed production also rose from 396.69 lakh tonnes to 426.09 lakh tonnes during the same period.
The government initiatives to support oilseed production include the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEOOS), approved on October 3, 2024, aimed at boosting domestic production and achieving self-reliance in edible oils. Additionally, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for oilseeds is set annually at a minimum of 1.5 times the cost of production. The Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PMAASHA) scheme also supports oilseed farmers through procurement, ensuring better prices and income support.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Shri Sukhdeo Bhagat: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question regarding farmers shifting from oilseeds to maize.
Shri Ramnath Thakur: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the question.
National Mission on Edible Oils Oilseeds (NMEOOS): A government initiative approved on 3rd October, 2024 to boost domestic oilseed production.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: A vision of making India self-reliant.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): A price at which the government purchases crops from farmers to protect them from price fluctuations.
Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PMAASHA): A scheme to ensure remunerative prices to farmers for their produce.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 399
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2025
RAPIDLY SHIFTING OF FARMERS FROM OILSEED TO MAIZE‑RELIANCE
399. SHRI SUKHDEO BHAGAT:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण
मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state:
(a) whether the farmers are rapidly shifting from oil seeds to maize due to low
domestic oil seed prices-despite the Government's goal of oil self-reliance as observed
in the June 30, 2025 Ministry report highlighting this crop-shift; and
(b) the details of interventions (like MSP or import tariffs) that are being implemented
to reverse this trend and ensure edible oil security?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): As per the third advance estimates of the Department of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), the area under oilseed cultivation has increased from
301.92 lakh hectares in 2023–24 to 302.65 lakh hectares in 2024–25. The production
of oilseeds has also increased from 396.69 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 to 426.09 lakh
tonnes in 2024-25.
The National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) was approved on 3rd
October, 2024 to boost domestic oilseed production and move towards self-reliance
(Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oils. Minimum Support Price (MSP) for oilseeds has
been declared every year at least 1.5 times the cost of production. Procurement under
the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme also
covers oilseeds and helps farmers get better prices and income support.
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