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Centre intensifies drive for oilseed, pulse self-reliance
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Wednesday, 12 August, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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The Centre is intensifying efforts to boost domestic production of oilseeds and pulses as part of its broader push towards self-reliance in edible oils and food security.
The National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), approved on October 3, 2024, aims to raise primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes in 2022-23 to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31. Separately, the Government launched the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses on October 11, 2025, with the target of increasing pulse production from 242 lakh tonnes to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31.
Under the NMEO-OS, a cluster-based approach with market linkages is being implemented across the country. More than 600 Value Chain Clusters have been operationalised and are being managed by Value Chain Partners, including Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and other agencies.
Farmers in these clusters are provided free high-quality seeds of the latest high-yielding varieties, along with training in good agricultural practices. The mission also supports the establishment and upgradation of post-harvest infrastructure, including oil mills, to improve oil recovery from primary and secondary sources.
To raise productivity, the mission promotes Frontline Demonstrations, Cluster Frontline Demonstrations and Block-Level Demonstrations, enabling farmers to adopt improved varieties and modern cultivation practices. It also provides 100% support for the purchase of breeder seeds and supports the establishment of new seed hubs and specialised seed storage units in the public sector.
During 2025-26, free seed distribution under Value Chain Clusters covered 13.52 lakh hectares, while another 4.44 lakh hectares have been covered so far during kharif 2026. The Government has also sanctioned 60 seed hubs and 50 specialised seed storage units for the production of breeder seeds of recently released varieties.
According to the third advance estimates of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, oilseed production increased from 413.55 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 430.59 lakh tonnes in 2025-26. The Government is also ensuring procurement of oilseeds at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).
Data from the Directorate of Sugar and Vegetable Oils, Department of Food and Public Distribution, showed that domestic availability of edible oils increased from 124.23 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 126.30 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. During the same period, edible oil imports declined from 165 lakh tonnes to 160.72 lakh tonnes.
Meanwhile, the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is supporting farmers through interventions such as seed production, distribution of certified seeds of high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties, demonstrations of improved production technologies, capacity building, seed-kit distribution and strengthening of post-harvest infrastructure.
To ensure remunerative prices, the mission supports assured procurement of Tur, Urad and Masoor from registered and willing farmers through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) under PM-AASHA, based on requisitions from the states.
During 2025-26, demonstrations covering 4.79 lakh hectares were conducted on improved crop production and protection technologies. About 4.33 lakh quintals of quality seeds were produced, 3.10 lakh quintals of certified seeds were distributed and 9.25 lakh seed kits were provided free of cost to farmers.
Pulse production rose from 242.46 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 to 274.09 lakh tonnes in 2025-26, according to the third advance estimate. At the same time, pulse imports fell from 72.56 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 to 59.64 lakh tonnes in 2025-26, indicating an improvement in domestic availability.
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