Lok Sabha Question No. 363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Agricultural Imports
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 363

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  JULY, 2025

## AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS

363. DR. K SUDHAKAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made any targets for ending agricultural imports of pulses, spices , vegetables and fruits into the country, if so, the details thereof; (b) the  details  of  steps  and  measures  being  taken  to  make  the  country  self  sufficient  in production of pulses, spices, vegetables and fruits; (c) the details of major export destination of spices, pulses, vegetables and fruits from India; (d) the  details  of  steps  and  measures  are  being  taken  to  reduce  the  imports  of  edible vegetable oil in to the country; the  details  of  the  steps  and  measures  taken  to  increase  the  local  procurement  of vegetables and fruits and ensuring that farmers adequately receive an assured amount for all
- (e) vegetables and fruits in the market; and
- (f) the  details  of  policy  with  respect  to  import  of  agricultural  produce  from  countries  that stand against our country's interests globally, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): India is self-reliant in most of the agri commodities. However, vegetable oils, pulses, fresh fruits and spices are major agri commodities which are imported. To increase the  production  of  pulses  across  the  country,  the  DA&FW  is  implementing  National  Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)-Pulses programme in all 28 States and 2 UTs viz: J&K  and  Ladakh.  Under  NFSNM-Pulses,  assistance  is  given  to  farmers through  state governments  on  various  interventions  such  as  demonstration  of  crop production  & protection  technologies,  distribution  &  production  of  newly  released  high  yielding/  stress tolerant/ climate resilient varieties/ hybrids and capacity building of farmers etc. In addition, the mission also provides support to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) & State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for technology back stopping and transfer of technology to the farmer under supervision of Subject Matter Specialists/Scientists.

Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme is being implemented w.e.f. 2014-15, for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering  fruits,  vegetables,  spices  etc.  Under  MIDH,  assistance  is  also  provided  for activities such  as production of planting material, vegetable seed production, coverage of area with improved cultivars, rejuvenation of senile orchards, protected cultivation, creation of  water  resources,  adoption  of  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM),  Integrated  Nutrient Management (INM), organic farming, including in situ generation of organic inputs. These measures  are  adopted  to  increase  the  production  and  improve  the  quality  of  fruits  and vegetables.  Capacity  building  of  farmers  and  technicians  is  also  provided  for  adopting improved technologies. The scheme also envisages creation of post harvest management (PHM) and marketing for better price realization of produce.

In  addition,  the  Government  of  India  is  also  implementing  several  programmes  to promote  spice  production,  including  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture (MIDH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sichai  Yojana  (PMKSY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bhima  Yojana (PMFBY) and others. In addition to these national programs, the  Directorate  of Arecanut and  Spices  Development  (DASD)  directly  supports spice development  through  the production of quality planting materials, technology dissemination via demonstrations, and farmer  training  programs  conducted  through  State  Agricultural  Universities  and  national institutes. Further, Spices Board is implementing the central sector scheme, 'Sustainability in  spice  sector  through  Progressive  Innovative  and  Collaborative  interventions  for  Export Development' (SPICED) with the budgetary support from Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

- (c): The details of major export destination of spices, pulses, vegetables and fruits from India are as under:-
- (d): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has been launched during August, 2021 with the aim to enhance the edible  oils  availability  in  the  country  by  harnessing  Oil  Palm  area  expansion,  increasing Crude Palm Oil production and to reduce the import burden on edible oil. The Mission will bring  additional  area  of  6.5  lakh  ha  under  Oil  Palm  plantation  with  a  total  outlay  of  Rs. 11,040 crore in next 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

|   Sr. No | Commodity       | Top Export Destinations                     |
|----------|-----------------|---------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Spices          | China, USA, UAE, Bangladesh, Thailand       |
|        2 | Pulses          | Bangladesh, UAE, China, USA, Sri Lanka      |
|        3 | Fresh Vegetable | Bangladesh, UAE, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
|        4 | Fresh Fruits    | Iraq, UAE, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Nepal   |

The Union Cabinet has approved the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) on 3 rd October, 2024 to boost domestic oilseed production and to strive toward self-sufficiency in edible oil production in the country. The objective of NMEO-Oilseeds is to enhance  the production of key primary oilseed  crops  such  as  Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, Sesamum, Safflower, Niger, Castor and Linseed, as well as increasing collection and extraction efficiency from secondary sources like Cottonseed, Rice  Bran,  Corn  oil  and  Tree  Borne  Oils.  The  mission  aims  to  increase  primary  oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31.

In  order to  support the oilseeds farmers of the country, the Government increased the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on Refined Palm Oil, Refined Sunflower Oil, and Refined Soybean Oil from 12.5% to 32.5% with  effect from 14.09.2024. Additionally, the BCD on Crude  Palm  Oil,  Crude  Sunflower  Oil,  and  Crude  Soybean  Oil  was  revised  to  10%  with effect from 30.05.2025. These adjustments on the part of the Government are expected to bolster domestic oilseed production and farmers' income.

(e): Market  Intervention  Scheme (MIS)  is  implemented  for  procurement  of  agricultural and horticultural commodities, which are perishable in nature and are not  covered under the Minimum Support Price regime. The objective of intervention is to protect the growers of these commodities from making distress sale in the event of a bumper crop during the peak  arrival  period  when  the  prices  tend  to  fall  below  economic  levels  and  the  cost  of production. The  condition  is  that  there  should  be  at  least  a  10  percent  decrease  in  the ruling  market  prices  over  the  previous  normal  year. The  scheme  is  implemented  at  the request  of  a  State/UT  government,  which  is  ready  to  bear  50  percent  of  the  loss (25 percent in case of North-Eastern States), if any, incurred on its implementation.

Government has introduced a new component of Price Differential Payment (PDP) under  Market  intervention  scheme (MIS) from  2024-25  season for  direct payment of the price difference between the Market Intervention Price (MIP) and the selling price to the farmers of perishable crops. States/UTs have an option to choose either to do physical procurement of the crop or to make the differential payment between the MIP & Sale Price to the farmers.

Further, from 2024-25 season, Government added another component under Market Intervention Scheme for reimbursing the Storage (upto 3 months) and Transportation cost of TOP crops (Tomato, Onion and Potato) to NAFED, NCCF & State designated agencies for transporting from the producing state to consuming states in the interest of the farmers.

(f): India's trade policy regarding agricultural imports is aligned with its foreign policy and national interests. Imports from countries that  may  pose geopolitical or  economic challenges are carefully evaluated. The Government  has the authority to impose restrictions,  safeguard  duties  or  bans  on  imports  to  protect  domestic  agriculture  and national  interests,  as  per WTO norms and  national laws. Such measures are taken  on  a case-by-case basis to safeguard India's sovereignty and economic security. The Government  remains  committed  to  enhancing  agricultural  self-reliance,  ensuring  farmer welfare, strengthening export potential, and  safeguarding national interests through appropriate policy measures.

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