On January 9, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) launched the first-ever edible oil consumption survey on the “My Gov” portal to assess edible oil consumption patterns across India.
- This initiative aims to support the effective implementation of the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds).
- It addresses the absence of recent data on consumption patterns in India, the world’s largest consumer and importer of edible oils.
- The 45-day questionnaire-based survey, launched on January 9, 2025, is scheduled to run until February 23, 2025.
About India’s First Edible Oil Consumption Survey:
i.The survey aims to analyze households’ consumption patterns, choices, and preferences for edible oils, providing valuable insights to guide policy decisions.
ii.It collects demographic details like domicile and residence type and examines oil usage patterns, including types of oils, deep-frying frequency, seasonal variation in oil usage, and factors influencing oil choices like health benefits and cost.
iii.It evaluates public awareness of health risks like trans fats, opinions on oil reuse, and concerns about oils in packaged foods.
iv.It also aims to understand consumer behavior regarding advertisements, label reading, and their willingness to pay for healthier oil options.
v.The survey results will guide the identification of priority oilseeds under the NMEO-Oilseeds program, set to launch in the upcoming kharif (summer) season starting in July 2025.
Significance of the survey:
i.Industry reports show that per capita annual consumption (PCAC) of edible oil in India has surpassed 20 Kilogram (kg), well above the recommended limits of 12 kg by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and 13 kg by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- This represents a significant rise from 2.9 kg in 1950-60, driven by factors like increasing incomes, urbanization, and shifting dietary habits.
About India’s import of edible oils:
i.Currently, India imports 55-60% of its edible oil needs from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, and Ukraine.
- In the 2023-24 oil marketing year, India’s edible oil imports totaled around 15.96 million tonnes (MT).
ii.According to the Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) of India, the import of edible oils (excluding non-edible oils for industrial use) during the 2023-24 oil year (November-October) decreased by 3% to 15.96 MT, valued at Rs.1,31,967 crore (or USD15.9 billion), compared to the previous year.
- The SEA has projected that imports may decrease by around 1 MT to 15 MT during the 2024-25 oil year.
About National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds):
i.The National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) is a focused initiative aimed at increasing oilseed production and achieving self-reliance in India.
- It was launched by Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) under MoA&FW in October 2024.
ii.It aims to increase the production of key oilseed crops like Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, and Sesamum, while improving collection and extraction from secondary sources like Cottonseed, Rice Bran, and Tree Borne Oils.
- The Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI) Portal enables states to coordinate with stakeholders, ensuring the timely availability of quality seeds.
iii.The implementation period for NMEO-Oilseeds is seven years, from 2024-25 to 2030-31, with a financial outlay of Rs. 10,103 crores.
iv.It also aims to increase primary oilseed production from 39 MT (2022-23) to 69.7 MT by 2030-31.
About Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW):
Union Minister– Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency- Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State(MoS) – Ram Nath Thakur (Rajya Sabha- Bihar)
