``Import of edible oils have spurted far in excess of demand-supply gap,'' tandon said. A hike in import duty of edible oils would not cause prices of edible oils to increase as ``we are expecting a bumper crop of oilseeds and ample supply of imported oils are available in the country,'' he added.

The Soybean Processors Association (SOPA) has asked the government to increase import duty on edible oils from the existing 15 per cent to a differential rate of 35 per cent on refined oil and 25 per cent on crude oil.

The import of edible oil at preferential rates had created a glut in the domestic market, a SOPA statement said here today. During 1997-98,20.8 lakh tonnes (Rs 6500 crore) of edible oil were imported, it said, adding that due to depressed international prices and low import duty, imports in the current year could touch 25 lakh tonnes "unless corrective steps are taken."

The association observed that the domestic oilseeds processing industry was passing through a difficult phase due to heavy disparity and loss due to excessive imports and low prices of soymeal in the world market. The technology mission on oilseeds and pulses was set up with the objective of achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds.

"The country achieved self-sufficiency of 97 per cent in1991 and this has come down to 77 per cent in 1997-98, thus defeating the very purpose of the setting up of the technology mission," it said.

The availability of edible oil in the market would increase further with the harvest of the mustard crop, "thus contributing to the woes of the processing industry and the farmers," the statement said.