NDDB to Focus on Increasing Oilseed Production to Achieve Self-Sufficiency

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has decided to boost oilseed production across the country in order to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils. As part of the initiative, the NDDB and the Karnataka Oilseeds Federation (KOF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, and the Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, to increase sunflower seed production in Karnataka.

This agreement paves the way for the commercialization of the sunflower hybrid KBSH-41. Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, B C Patil, Agriculture Minister of Karnataka, Annasaheb Jolle, Chairman KOF, Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB, and S Rajendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, UAS-Bangalore signed the MoU.

Karandlaje stated that this historic occasion is an important step toward the country's self-sufficiency in edible oil production. She requested NDDB assistance in reducing the country's reliance on imported edible oil and praised the Board's intention to assist the oilseed sector.

The availability of credible sources of hybrid seeds has become a major gap, according to Karandlaje, who praised the NDDB and KOF's collaborative efforts to begin commercial production of successful sunflower hybrid seeds so that farmers can obtain superior seeds.

Patil stated that the Indian government's increase in MSP has encouraged farmers in Karnataka to increase sunflower production. The impetus to rapidly increase domestic edible oil production represents an opportunity to improve the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers.

According to NDDB Chairman Shah, the NDDB was involved in the establishment of edible oil cooperatives under Operation Golden Flow in the 1980s. The Dairy Board is reactivating. According to Shah, this is a small but critical first step toward supporting the government's initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils.

The NDDB and KOF will encourage farmers to grow sunflower as a preferred crop by making high-quality seeds available at reasonable prices. In rabi 2022, NDDB will collaborate with KOF to produce 5,000 quintals of hybrid sunflower seeds, which will be enough to sow in approximately one lakh hectares. This will be expanded in Karnataka and replicated in other states for other oilseeds such as groundnut and mustard.

According to Jolle, the NDDB has already begun a number of measures to assist KOF. He went on to say that because of the Ukraine crisis, there is a severe shortage of sunflower oil. Sunflower seed prices have risen as a result. Our farmers can restart sunflower seed production and earn profits, according to Jolle.

According to Prasad, the NDDB and KOF have approached UAS-B about commercializing successful sunflower hybrid seeds. As a result of the agreement, large-scale sunflower hybrid seed production will be restarted.

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