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New Delhi, August 8, 2026 – India is making significant strides towards achieving self-reliance in edible oils and pulses, driven by two key national initiatives. The National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), approved on October 3, 2024, aims to substantially boost domestic oilseed production. Its ambitious target is to increase primary oilseed output from 39 million tonnes recorded in 2022-23 to 69.7 million tonnes by the fiscal year 2030-31. Complementing this, the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, launched on October 11, 2025, seeks to raise domestic pulse production from 242 lakh tonnes to 350 lakh tonnes within the same timeframe.
The NMEO-OS operates on a cluster-based strategy, integrating robust market linkages. More than 600 Value Chain Clusters have been established nationwide, managed by various Value Chain Partners including Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and other agricultural agencies. Within these clusters, farmers receive essential support, such as free distribution of high-quality seeds from the latest high-yielding varieties and comprehensive training in good agricultural practices. The mission also prioritizes enhancing post-harvest infrastructure, supporting the establishment and upgrade of oil mills to improve oil recovery from both primary and secondary sources.
Furthermore, the mission is dedicated to improving productivity through targeted interventions like Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs), Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs), and Block-Level Demonstrations (BLDs). These initiatives are designed to facilitate farmers' adoption of advanced high-yielding varieties and efficient agricultural techniques. To ensure a consistent supply of certified seeds, the mission provides 100% financial support for the purchase of breeder seeds and facilitates the creation of new seed hubs and specialized public sector seed storage units, thereby enhancing overall production and storage capacity. Farmers are also guaranteed remunerative prices for their oilseeds through procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA).
Significant progress has been reported under the NMEO-OS. During 2025-26, a total of 13.52 lakh hectares were covered by free seed distribution within Value Chain Clusters, with an additional 4.44 lakh hectares covered during the Kharif season of 2026 to date. Infrastructure development includes the sanctioning of 60 Seed Hubs and 50 specialized seed storage units for breeder seed production of newly released varieties. Consequently, oilseed production has shown a positive trend, increasing from 413.55 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 430.59 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 (as per the 3rd Advance Estimate by DA&FW). This domestic growth has positively impacted the edible oils sector, with availability rising from 124.23 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 126.30 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, leading to a decline in edible oil imports from 165.00 lakh tonnes to 160.72 lakh tonnes over the same period, according to the Directorate of Sugar and Vegetable Oils.
Parallel efforts are underway to bolster pulses production through the Pulses Mission. Farmers receive comprehensive assistance via State Governments and Union Territories across various interventions. These include seed production, distribution of certified seeds for high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties, demonstrations of cutting-edge crop production technologies, capacity building programs, and the distribution of seed kits, alongside strengthening post-harvest infrastructure. To guarantee fair prices, the Mission supports assured procurement of specific pulse varieties like Tur, Urad, and Masoor from registered farmers by entities such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF), operating under PM-AASHA based on state requisitions.
The Pulses Mission has also yielded notable results. In 2025-26, demonstrations on the latest crop production and protection technologies were conducted across 4.79 lakh hectares. Additionally, 4.33 lakh quintals of quality seeds were produced, 3.10 lakh quintals of certified seeds were distributed, and 9.25 lakh seed kits were provided free of cost to farmers. This concerted effort has led to a substantial increase in pulse production, from 242.46 lakh tonnes during 2023-24 to 274.09 lakh tonnes during 2025-26 (3rd Advance estimate). Reflecting improved domestic availability, pulse imports decreased from 72.56 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 to 59.64 lakh tonnes in 2025-26.
Source: Global Agriculture