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New Delhi : Centre on May 24, 2021, held a meeting with all stakeholders to discuss ways to address the issue of stability of edible oil prices. The objective of the meeting was to coordinate efforts to ensure availability of edible oils at reasonable prices.
The first of its kind meeting, held to discuss ways to address the issue of abnormal price increase of edible oil, was attended by Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India (GoI), Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, GoI, and Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, GoI, producers of edible oil seeds, millers. stockists, wholesalers, various associations of the edible oil industry sector, senior officials of States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The meeting was convened by Department of Food & Public Distribution, GoI.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Food & Public Distribution, said that it was important to understand the issues that are contributing to price rise and discuss the same with all the stakeholders so that appropriate strategies can be formulated to address the issue of edible oil prices
It may be noted that production and domestic availability of oilseeds in India is way short of needs of domestic demand of edible oil. A big volume of edible oil is imported each year. Changes in International prices of edible oil make an impact on domestic Indian price of edible oil. The need to hold the meeting was also felt because Centre got concerned about more than proportionate rise in the prices of edible oil in India compared to the rise in international prices of edible oil during the last few months.
Secretary, Food & Public Distribution,said that mission “Atmanirbhar Bharat” requires country to be self-sufficient in edible oils. Dependency of almost 60% on imports is not appropriate to the growth of edible oil industry in India. “There is a need to strike a balance between short-term measures to keep prices.in check and long-term measure of keeping India AtmaNirbhar in Edible oil production,” he said. At the meeting, it was felt that there was a need to strike a balance between measures to keep high prices.in check and measures to make India AtmaNirbhar in the area of Edible oil production. He said that all the States and stakeholders from the side of business must take all possible steps to soften the prices, according to a PIB release
He added that suggestions presented at the meeting would help in arriving at wholesome solutions to address the issue in stability of edible oil prices and domestic growth of oil seeds sector. He asked the participants to mail the suggestions and other inputs as Centre makes efforts to ensure availability of Edible oils at reasonable prices