Panchkula: A district-level farmers’ fair was organized by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Panchkula, at the Barwala Mandi under the National Mission on Edible Oils. During the event, Kalka MLA Shakti Rani Sharma inspected various stalls set up by the department and gathered information about the welfare schemes and programs being implemented for farmers.She instructed agriculture department officials to ensure that information regarding these schemes reaches the farmers and does not remain confined to government offices. “Farmers should be aware of the schemes available to them, the application process, and how the benefits can reach their fields,” the MLA said.She noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central govt approved the ‘National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds’ on Oct 3, 2024. The mission aims to increase the country’s oilseed production from 3.9 crore tonnes in 2022-23 to 6.97 crore tonnes by 2030-31. Additionally, the aim is to meet a significant portion of the country’s needs domestically by boosting edible oil production and reducing reliance on imports.Compared to 2014-15, oilseed production increased by approximately 56% by 2024-25. During this same period, oilseed productivity also rose from 1,075 kg per hectare to 1,412 kg per hectare. This upward trend in production continued, with oilseed output reaching 43.06 lakh tonnes (4.306 crore tonnes) in 2025-26.The MLA stated that efforts are underway to connect farmers with better seeds, scientific farming methods, processing facilities, and markets through more than 600 value chain clusters across the country. “In Haryana, farmers are being encouraged to adopt improved, high-oil-yielding oilseed varieties. Certified seeds are being made available, and farmers are receiving periodic training on best agricultural practices. She noted that there is a provision to provide financial assistance of Rs 3,600 per acre to farmers for sunflower demonstration plots via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT),” she said.
