Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, informed the public about a series of significant initiatives aimed at boosting agriculture and supporting farmers across India during a press conference in Bhopal. He said the government plans to provide free breeder seeds, certified seeds, and foundation seeds developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to farmers under the National Edible Oil Mission (NMEO-Oilseeds).
This initiative will involve the creation of 600 clusters across the country, focusing on 347 districts in 21 states known for oilseed production. Farmers in these areas will not only receive free seeds but also benefit from training on advanced farming techniques to boost yields, and the government will ensure 100% procurement of their produce.
Chouhan highlighted that recent decisions regarding the import duty on edible oils are positively affecting domestic production and prices. Import duty on edible oils like soybean, mustard, and sunflower, which was previously 0%, has now been raised to 27.5%. The government will also buy soybean from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP), ensuring fair compensation. States such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka will participate in the procurement process alongside the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana.
In another major move, the government has lifted the minimum export duty on Basmati rice, making exports cheaper and more competitive, while the ban on non-Basmati rice exports has also been lifted, benefiting farmers. Additionally, the export duty on onions has been reduced from 40% to 20%, providing further relief to the agricultural sector.
Chouhan also informed about the creation of the National Edible Oil Mission, a Rs 10,103 crore initiative aimed at enhancing oilseed production. Under this mission, oilseeds will be cultivated on 10 lakh hectares annually, with the area being rotated over a seven-year period, covering 70 lakh hectares in total. The initiative will also see the establishment of 65 new seed centers, raising the total to 100, and 50 seed storage units to safeguard the quality of seeds.
The cabinet has approved another major scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, with a budget of Rs 1.01 lakh crore. This program includes various components like soil health management, agricultural mechanization, crop diversification, and digital agriculture, all aimed at enhancing productivity and farmer income.
The Digital Agriculture Mission will employ technologies such as remote sensing to monitor crop losses and improve the efficacy of crop insurance programs.
