Mumbai function

Inaugural address as Chief Guest on Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) Award Function to the Highest Processors and Exporters to be held on 24th September, 2010 at Hotel The Leela Kempinski, Sahar, Mumbai

It is my pleasure to attend SEA Awards Function organized by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) here in Mumbai today.

2. Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) is a premier organization of the oilseeds sector and solvent Industry. SEA is also engaged in the processing of oilseeds, oilcakes, rice bran and recovery of oils from oil bearing materials besides being active in promotion of vegetable oils trade, export of oil meals, compound of feeds for animals, poultry & aquatic species.

3. I am informed that SEA has a strength of over 800 members from solvent industry, oil mills, vegetable oil refiners, vanaspati manufacturers, exporters, foreign buyers, dealers and various other stakeholders of oilseeds and oil sectors. The Solvent Industry contributes significantly in processing of oilseeds, oilcakes, rice bran etc and promoting export of oil meals of over 4 million tones annually. The export of oil meals balances the burden of import cost of edible oils to a large extent.

4. To encourage the processing of oilseeds as well as export, the Association present awards to highest processors and exporters of various commodities every year. The awards conferred by SEA this year to the highest achievers will definitely inspire and motivate in the promotion of oilseeds in the country. It will also provide added zest to work towards our goal to increase the production of oilseeds and to reduce dependence on imported oils and also boost the export of oil meals.

5. As we know, India is one of the major producers and consumers of vegetable oils in the world. India accounts for 12-15% of the area under oilseeds; 7-8% output and 6-7% of the world’s vegetable oil production. The diverse agro ecological conditions in the country are favourable for growing nine annual oilseeds which include 7 edible oilseeds viz. groundnut, rapeseed/ mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, safflower and niger and two non-edible oil seeds, castor and linseed.

6. The average of last five years oilseeds production in India has been to the tune of 27.0 million tones. In 2007-08, the production of oilseeds was achieved at a record of 29.75 million tones. At present, the domestic oilseeds output in terms of vegetable production has been trailing consumption growth, necessitating imports of edible oils to meet the shortfall.

7. Realizing the importance of oilseeds, the Government of India has launched various schemes which provides assistance to the development of oilseeds in the country. Centrally Sponsored Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize (ISOPOM, under implementation since 2004-05, is a major programme which covers 14 major oilseeds growing States. During the XIth Plan Period, the Government has given thrust to oilseeds development. Oilseeds production programmes are supported under two major schemes namely Macro-Management of Agriculture (MMA) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as well. During 2010-11, Government has launched two new sub-schemes under RKVY Viz; (i) organizing sixty thousand pulses and oilseeds villages during 2010-11 in rainfed areas and oilseeds production strategy in six Eastern States of the country under the specific scheme of “Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India” for the year 2010-11. I hope these programme will help in increasing the production and productivity of oilseeds in the country.

8. I congratulate the winners of the Awards. I compliment SEA for organizing the function.