The CCEA on Wednesday lifted the ban on bulk exports of edible oils — except mustard oil — to help farmers get better price for oilseed crops.

“Removing... restrictions on export of edible oils is likely to provide additional marketing avenues for edible oils and will benefit the farmers by way of better realisation for oilseeds,” said an official statement.

Mustard oil can be exported only in consumer packs of up to five kg in weight and with a minimum export price of $900 per tonne, it said.

The decision, taken on the basis of a proposal moved by the Commerce Ministry, will help utilise idle capacity in the country’s edible oil industry, the statement said.

The panel also increased nutrient-based subsidy available for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers in 2018-19 on account of the increase in their international prices.

The subsidy is expected to cost the government ₹23,007 crore — ₹1,913 crore more than that in the current financial year.

As per approved nutrient-based subsidy rates, nitrogen fertilisers will get a subsidy of ₹18.9 per kg, phosphorus 15.26 per kg, potash ₹11.12 per kg and sulphur ₹2.72 per kg.

The CCEA also approved an outlay of ₹2,824 crore for 699 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes between 2017 and 2020. The funds will also be used for special programmes initiated by KVKs.

Another proposal of the Department of Fertilisers for continuing nutrient-based subsidy and city compost till 2019-20 at a cost of ₹61,972 crore also received the CCEA nod.

“The expenditure for the scheme will be on actual basis since national rollout of DBT (direct benefit transfer) entails 100 per cent payment of subsidy to fertiliser companies on sale of fertilisers to farmers at subsidised rates,” the release said.

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