India: Government pushes for edible oil self-reliance under NMEO; oil palm coverage reaches 6.20 lakh hectares

Published Dec 9, 2025

Tridge summary

India’s efforts to reduce dependence on edible oil imports have gained momentum under the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO), with the Centre reporting notable progress in both oil palm expansion and oilseed productivity. According to an August 2024 NITI Aayog report, India now ranks first globally in the production of rice bran oil, castor

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seed, safflower, sesame and niger. However, domestic output continues to meet only 44% of the country’s edible oil requirement. The NMEO–Oil Palm (OP), launched in 2021, aims to bring 6.5 lakh hectares under oil palm by 2025–26. By November 2025, 2.50 lakh hectares had been added, taking the total cultivated area to 6.20 lakh hectares nationwide. Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production has increased from 1.91 lakh tonnes in 2014–15 to 3.80 lakh tonnes in 2024–25. The scheme provides farmers with a Viability Price (VP) for Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs), insulating them from international CPO price fluctuations. A financial outlay of Rs 11,040 crore has been earmarked for the mission, with major focus on seed gardens, nurseries, high-yield planting material, drip irrigation and intercropping during the gestation period. The second component, NMEO–Oilseeds (OS), approved in 2024 for a seven-year period, targets raising primary oilseed output from 39 MT in 2022–23 to 69.7 MT by 2030–31. The ...

Source: UkrAgroConsult