India’s imports of crude sunflower oil fell 23 percent to 5.70 lakh tons between February 21 and June 30 this year as a result of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, parliament was informed on Tuesday. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, in his written response to the Lok Sabha, said the main countries from which India imports sunflower oil are Ukraine, Russia and Argentina.

“From February 21, 2022 to June 30, 2022, 5.70 lakh tons of crude sunflower oil were imported into the country, compared to 7.39 lakh tons in the corresponding period last year,” Tomar said.

The minister responded to an inquiry as to whether there had been any impact on sunflower oil imports due to recent instability in Ukraine and Russia.

Tomar said the country imported 20.45 lakh tons of crude sunflower oil in fiscal 2021-22, down slightly from 21.75 lakh tons the previous year.

On steps taken to reduce import dependency on sunflower oil, Tomar said the government implemented a centrally sponsored Scheme National Food Security Mission- Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NFSM-OS&OP) in 2018-19 to increase the availability of Edible oils by increasing the amount of oil to increase production and productivity of nine oilseeds, including sunflower, and reduce the country’s import burden.

The NFSM-OS will be implemented in 28 states and union territories in 2022-23.

The Government has also approved a Rs.43.53 crore Special Project to ICAR, Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad to increase the area and production of sunflower cultivation in the country through hybrid seed production and demonstration for three years from 2022-23 increase by 2024. 25, he added.