Farmers should pay more attention to oilseed production, know why Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said this

Central Minister Nitin Gadkari has stressed the need for the agricultural sector to shift its focus towards oilseeds production to reduce edible oil imports and make India self-reliant. Speaking at a program, he mentioned that India is spending ₹1.5 lakh crores annually on edible oil imports. To decrease dependency on imported oil and boost agricultural income for self-reliance, the agricultural sector should turn towards oilseeds production.

He highlighted that the import dependence on edible oil needs to be reduced as it places a significant financial burden on the country. Gadkari emphasized that farmers should consider shifting to oilseeds production because traditional crops like rice, wheat, and sugarcane often fetch lower prices. Furthermore, Gadkari noted that global circumstances influence the prices of agricultural products, and India's ability to find buyers for its wheat, for example, would be challenging if Australian wheat is sold at ₹6.50 per kilogram. He advocated that for poverty reduction and unemployment eradication, India's agricultural growth rate should increase from the current 12% to 20%.