|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Govt implementing special programme on seeds under NFSM-OS, Parliament told
|
|
Friday, 31 March, 2023, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
|
The Union Ministry of Agriculture has told Parliament that under the National Food Security Mission- Oilseeds (NFSM-OS), Government of India has been implementing some special programme on Rapeseed & Mustard for distribution of latest high yielding varieties seeds, distribution of Seed Mini kits of hybrid Mustard seeds, Rapid Soybean Seed Multiplication Plan (3S1Y) and a Special Project to increase area and production of Sunflower cultivation in the country through hybrid seed production and demonstration for three years from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
“In addition, Government has also approved an Annual Action Plan for area expansion of Sunflower in Paddy Fallows during 2022-23,” reads the statement put before the Parliament by the Agriculture Ministry.
The Ministry added that the scheme was aimed at reducing the import burden by increasing the production and productivity of oilseeds including Groundnut, Soybean, Rapeseed & Mustard, Sunflower, Safflower, Sesame, Niger, Linseed, Castor along with area expansion of Oil Palm & Tree Borne Oilseeds including Olive, Mahua, Kokum, Wild Apricot, Neem, Jojoba, Karanja, Simaroba, Tung, Cheura and Jatropha in the country.
The National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Oilseeds is being implemented from the year 2017-18 in 28 States/UTs, and the scheme comprises of three sub-missions namely, NFSM-Oilseeds, NFSM-Oil Palm and NFSM-Tree Borne Oilseeds.
However, the government did not present any data on the production of the oilseeds and its impact on reducing the burden of import of oilseeds into India.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Shankar Thakkar, president of the All India Edible Oil Traders’ Confederation, has said that the Government’s scheme isn’t working on ground and a detailed plan focusing on accurate implementation was needed, if the government really wants to reduce the import burden of oilseeds.
“There are challenges for implementation of this plan. The agri land that is being used for the scheme has been traditionally used for a different crop. E.g., in Tamil Nadu or Telangana, farm lands where rice is produced traditionally, are being used for production of palm plants and it will impact rice production. Similarly, for other oilseeds, the government hasn’t given any data about how much production has happened over last few years,” he said.
Thakkar suggested that the government should make a balance in planning the scheme so that there will be no impact on production of other crop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|