Govt to spend Rs 3,507 crore to boost oilseeds output in 12th Plan

New Delhi: The Centre proposes to spend Rs 3,507 crore during the 12 {+t} {+h} Plan to boost oilseeds output and bring an additional area of 1.25 lakh hectares under oil palm.

“The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the implementation of National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm with an allocation of Rs 3,507 crore,” a statement said.

fresh fruit bunches
Besides enhancing oilseeds output by 6.58 million tonnes, the Mission would also bring additional area of 1.25 lakh hectares under oil palm cultivation with increase in productivity of fresh fruit bunches from 4,927 kg a hectare to 15,000 kg and increase in collection of tree-borne oilseeds to 14 lakh tonnes. “The implementation of the proposed mission will enhance production of vegetable oil sources by 2.48 mt from oilseeds (1.70 mt), oil palm (0.60 mt) and tree borne oilseeds (0.18 mt) by the end of the 12th Plan period,” the statement said.

seed replacement ratio
The mission would lay stress on increasing the seed replacement ratio with focus on varietal replacement; increasing irrigation coverage under oilseeds from 26 per cent to 38 per cent and diversification of area from low yielding cereals crops to oilseeds crops. Under the mission, the recommended varieties and proven technologies would be demonstrated in a cluster approach to ensure participation of all categories of farmers, irrespective of the size of their holdings, social status.

existing schemes
The national mission on oilseeds is built upon the achievements of the existing schemes of Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds Oil Palm and Maize , Tree Borne Oilseeds Scheme and Oil Palm Area Expansion programme during the 11th Plan period.