Topic
self-sufficiency
Commodities India must boost oilseed yields to cut edible oil imports, SEA chief says
India's record oilseed production of 43.06 million tonnes in 2025-26 is overshadowed by 60% import dependence for edible oils. SEA chief Sanjeev Asthana urges yield improvements, a National Oilseeds Mission, and use of cottonseed and rice bran oils to reduce imports to 9.5-10 million tonnes by 2030. Monsoon risks and geopolitical disruptions add uncertainty.
Commodities India Achieves Self-Sufficiency in Food Production, CTCRI Director Says
India has achieved self-sufficiency in food production, according to Dr G Baiju, Director of ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI). Foodgrain production rose from 50.8 million tonnes in 1950–51 to 376.5 million tonnes in 2025–26, while horticulture output exceeded 370 million tonnes. Agri exports surged to ₹4.3 lakh crore in 2024-25, with India becoming the world's largest rice exporter. Budgetary allocation for agriculture increased from ₹27,662 crore to ₹1.40 lakh crore, and ICAR released 3,821 high-yielding varieties from 2014 to 2025.