Sittal Thapa*, Ranjit Baral
Abstract
With an annual average yield of about 29 million tons, India stands as forth leading oilseeds producing countries, next only to the USA, China, and Brazil. Though the country has made a significant paradigm in the total oilseeds production i.e. from meagre 5.26 million metric tons (MMT) in Marketing year (MY) 1949/50 to a whopping 32.10 MMT in year MY 2016/17, the country is not able to pace up with the skyrocketing demand of the oilseed brought about by the booming population growth. The country is still importing around half of its domestic consumption requirements of edible oils from various global exporters. Soybean and Mustard oil being consumed as a vegetable oil by the large proportion of the Indian population occupies an important position in edible oils sector of India. This article analyses the current scenario of oilseed production, challenges associated and various solutions that might take country towards oilseeds sufficiency.