Dimapur, July 28 (EMN): Government of India under National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has initiated a mega oil palm plantation drive from July 25 to August 5.
To commemorate the initiative, a roundtable was organised in Guwahati, which witnessed participation from Godrej Agrovet Ltd, Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India and Solidaridad Network, an update informed.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]The discussion revolved around the importance of oil palm cultivation for the Northeast and how it can uplift the farmers in the region.
In August 2021, GoI launched the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) with a focus on increasing edible oil production from oil palm.
NMEO-OP is a centrally sponsored scheme, and the cost will be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the central and the state government for general states and 90:10 for NE states and 100% for UTs and for central agencies.
“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 and 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, the update stated.
Dr. BV Mehta, Executive Director, The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, highlighted the critical role of palm oil as an affordable cooking oil and a significant source of nutrition for millions of consumers.
Despite its importance, the country faces a considerable gap between demand and supply, leading to the annual importation of approximately 140 lakh tonnes of various edible oils. This import expenditure amounts to a staggering INR 120,000 crore on palm and other oils, Mehta said.
“To address the challenge and ensure food security, it becomes imperative to take concrete measures. The focus should be on enhancing the production of edible oilseeds and making oils more readily available within the country. 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),” he added.
“When ICAR-IIOPR and DA&FW carried out the assessment of oil palm potential areas during 2020, a total of 27.99 lakh ha was found suitable for oil palm cultivation in India, of which, 9.62 lakh ha has been identified in the Northeast States. 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, etc.” said Dr. K Suresh, Director, ICAR-IIOPR.
Palm oil is the world's highest yielding oil crop. Its output is 5-10 times greater per hectare, offering better land-use efficiency than other vegetable oils. To add to this, the oil palm plantation industry is carbon negative.
Highlighting the sustainability aspect of Indian oil palm cultivation, Dr. Suresh Motwani, Veg Oil Program Head – India, Solidaridad Network, said “Studies have shown that palm oil is one of the most sustainable crop. 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.”