Value addition, innovation key to India’s competitiveness in global edible oil market: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi
New Delhi : Hon’ble Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi said India today stands at a critical juncture in the global edible oil trade and called upon the industry to focus on value addition and innovation in order to ensure that India remains competitive in the global vegetable oil market while securing domestic needs.
“I encourage the Associations and industry to focus on value addition through processing & refining, support innovation to increase efficiency and productivity. Through policy innovation, increased investment in agri-tech, and public-private collaborations, we can ensure that India remains competitive in the global vegetable oil market while securing domestic needs,” Union Minister said in a video message at the IVPA 2-day ‘Global Roundtable 4.0’ held in Delhi today.
The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA), the apex body representing India’s edible oil refining industry, is organising a 2-day Global Roundtable 4.0 on 24-25 July, 2025 themed “Navigating Tectonic Global Shifts.” The Conference aims to explore the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, as India navigates this complex and evolving global landscape in its journey toward a robust, future-ready vegetable oil industry.
The Union Minister said to reduce this import dependency and conserve valuable foreign exchange, our government is working to advance the goal of Atmanirbharta in edible oils.
Addressing the conference, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said India’s significant dependence on edible oil imports, currently meeting 55-60% of its demand, poses a serious challenge to its food security and economic stability.
“Achieving self-sufficiency in edible oils has been a longstanding goal of Indian policymakers, and it is part of a broader strategy to enhance food security, reduce import dependence, and promote sustainable agriculture. Existing technologies offer substantial opportunities to boost oilseed yields. Newly developed Indian varieties demonstrate genetic potential on par with top-performing countries globally. Scaling up production of these high-potential varieties by enhancing seed replacement rates, ensuring widespread distribution of their progeny are crucial steps forward.”
“The adoption of precision agriculture, biotechnology, and smart farming technologies will be vital in improving oilseed productivity and resilience. Govt of India is committed to encourage greater investment in R&D for developing highyield, climate-resilient seed varieties.”
The Union Cabinet approved the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana on July 16, 2025, launching a mission-mode scheme over six years (FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31). The scheme targets 100 districts at least one from each state selected based on low productivity, low cropping intensity, and limited credit penetration.
“A total of ₹24,000 crore shall be deployed via convergence of 36 existing schemes spanning 11 central ministries plus state initiatives and private partnerships,” Chopra highlighted.
In the recent past, the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds was approved by the Union Cabinet on October 3, 2024. The mission spans 2024–25 to 2030–31 with a total outlay of ₹10,103 crore. It targets an increase in primary oilseed production from 390 LMT (2022–23) to 697 LMT by 2030–31. The mission complements the existing NMEO–Oil Palm initiative to raise domestic edible oil production to 254.5 LMT, meeting around 72% of national demand by the year 2030.
The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) President Sudhakar Desai said we commend the Government for the continued engagement with our sector through constructive dialogue, policy responsiveness with a clear focus on self-sufficiency goals.
“The broader need is to move towards greater self-sufficiency in a calibrated, balanced, and sustainable manner. The dynamic duty structure is a key enabler—aligning duties with market realities, preserving domestic value addition, and maintaining equilibrium between farmers, industry, and consumers.”