Mysuru: India has to become self-reliant in the cooking oil sector, said Union Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shobha Karandlaje here on Friday May 20.
Speaking to mediapersons here, she said, “India imports 70 per cent of the edible oil. Malaysia and Indonesia export palm oil to India. The Centre is seriously thinking about making the country self-reliant in the cooking oil sector.”
Karandlaje said, “India is an agriculture-based country. We have around 90 per cent small-sized farmers. Keeping them in mind, the Centre has set up societies to help them. Steps are also afoot to supply quality seeds. Agriculture stands at 22.5 per cent of the GDP. India also has the credit of helping other countries during the pandemic situation.”
The BJP leader also canvassed for M. V. Ravishankar who is contesting from the South Graduates Constituency elections. “Election is like a war for a political party. Our leader Go Madhusudana has been active all these years. Of the four constituencies, three belongs to us. Veteran leader Basavaraj Horatti has also joined hands with us. We need to help Ravishankar win the elections.”
