The
domestic production of 11 oilseed crops is being outstripped by growing
demand for edible oils. The Agriculture
Ministry
had estimated a shortage of about 1.4 million tonnes of edible oils both
in 1996-97 and 1997-98 which was
expected
to rise to 2.2 million tonnes by the year 2000. Figures however show that
the actual imports was
approximately
4.3 million tonnes for 1998-99 and is estimated at about 5.0 million tonnes
in 1999-2000.
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