Panel echoes need for state governments to accelerate the setting up of required infrastructure
India needs to enhance domestic production of edible oils, having to pay Rs.120,000 crore for 140 lakh tonnes of imports every year, according to Dr. B. V. Mehta, Executive Director, The Solvent Extractors’ Association.
“The focus should be on enhancing the production of edible oilseeds and making oils more readily available within the country,” he said at a roundtable organized in Guwahati on 27 July 2023.
The National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has initiated a Mega Oil Plantation Drive from 25 July to 5 August 2023.
“To address the challenge and ensure food security, it becomes imperative to take concrete measures,” Dr Mehta stressed.
“This can be achieved by fully harnessing the potential of Oil Palm areas, ensuring speedy expansion into new areas, and increasing the production of Crude Palm Oil (CPO). By doing so, we not only reduce the burden of edible oil imports but also alleviate the pressure on foreign exchange reserves,” he said.
Palm oil is the world’s highest yielding oil crop. Its output is 5-10 times greater per hectare, offering a better land-use efficiency than other vegetable oils. To add to this, the oil palm plantation industry is carbon negative, the roundtable noted.
Highlighting the sustainability aspect of Indian oil palm cultivation, Dr. Suresh Motwani, Veg Oil Program Head – India, Solidaridad Network, elaborated, “Studies have shown that palm oil is one of the most sustainable crops.
“By adopting sustainable practices, oil palm plantations can balance the demand for palm oil production with environmental and social responsibility, reducing their overall ecological footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future for farmers.
“To strengthen the production of palm oil in India the Indian Palm Oil Sustainability framework (IPOS) has been introduced to drive a positive change in the palm oil industry and contribute to more sustainable practices, benefiting the environment, local communities, and the Indian economy.”
The panel unequivocally echoed the need for the state governments in the region to accelerate its process of setting up the required infrastructure and fast-track the land allotment for oil palm cultivation thereby uplifting and prospering the farmers with small land holding.
“The NMEO-OP is a step in the right direction for the country. We thank the government for putting this in place and also taking special care of the Northeast States,” said Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director, Godrej Agrovet Ltd, a leading diversified, Research & Development focused food and agri-business conglomerate.
Involved in oil palm plantation in the region since 2006, it is the only company to have an operational mill in Mizoram since 2014. The company also has signed MoUs with Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura State governments for development and promotion of oil palm cultivation in the region under the NMEO-OP scheme.
India is the world’s largest importer of Palm Oil and is the 2nd largest consumer of Palm Oil. With the local production of 300,000 tons, the country currently imports 7,500,000 tons a year.
India has 27.99 lakh ha suitable for oil palm cultivation, of which 9.62 lakh ha has been identified in the Northeast States. However, presently it is being cultivated in an area of 38,992 ha in NER, leaving much scope for expansion.
ICAR-IIOPR is handholding oil palm development in NER through capacity building programmes, seed gardens, planting materials, demonstrations, supply of critical inputs among others, said Dr. K. Suresh, Director, ICAR-IIOPR.
The Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) serves as a nodal body for conducting and coordinating research on all aspects of oil palm conservation, improvement, production, protection, post-harvest technology and transfer of technology, it has played a pivotal role in selecting the non-agricultural land across the country.
Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL) is a diversified, Research & Development focused food and agri-business conglomerate, dedicated to improving the productivity of Indian farmers by innovating products and services that sustainably increase crop and livestock yields. Fiinews.com
