National Mission on Edible Oil- Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

CONTEXT:

At a time when India’s dependence on expensive imports has driven retail oil prices to new highs, the Centre has announced ₹11,000 crore for National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). The announcement was made at the virtual release event of the ninth instalment of PM Kisan scheme worth ₹19,500 crore to 9.75 crore farmers.

FOR PRELIMS:

• It aims to reduce import dependence of domestic oil from 60% to 45% by 2024-25, by increasing domestic edible oil production from 10.5 million tonnes to 18 million tonnes, a 70% growth target.
• It projected a 55% growth in oilseed production, to 47.8 million tonnes.
• The previous scheme of oil production was the National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm, later merged with the National Food Security Mission.

• Oilseed production had grown 35% from 27.5 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 37.3 million tonnes by 2020-21, by the previous scheme.

About National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)

• Implemented during the 12th Five Year Plan
• The NMOOP was launched under Mini Missions (MM) I, II & III to achieve the following specific targets;

• Under the MM–I, the mission aims to increase the production of oilseeds to 35.51 million tonnes from the current average production of 28.93 million tonnes of oilseeds.
• Under the MM–II, the mission’s target is to broaden the area for oil palm cultivation and boost the production of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) from 4927 kg/ha to 15,000 kg/ha.
• MM–III envisages to strengthen the seed collection of Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs) such as olive, sal, mahua, kokum, wild apricot, Tung, etc., from 9 lakh tonnes to 14 lakh tonnes and provide best planting materials for the expanded areas.

• National and State level committees are established to oversee the activities of the mission.
• National Level Committee comprises of,

• An Executive Committee (EC) to guide and monitor the overall progress of the mission. It is headed by the Union Minister of Agriculture and consulted by the heads of several DACs.
• A Standing Committee (SC) to oversee the activities and approve the Annual Action Plan (AAP) of the States.
• A Mission Monitoring Committee (MMC) to review the physical and financial progress of the three Mini Missions.

• State Level Committee is formed by the State Government to decide the priorities, examine the AAPs and evaluate the progress of each Mini Missions implemented in the States. It is chaired by the Chairman of Agriculture Production Commissioner/Principal Secretary/Secretary (Agriculture) of the State.

Sources

• The Hindu
• PIB
• Agriculture Ministry website