If India gives land, we will work together to produce palm oil here, says visiting Malaysian Minister

If India gives land, we will work together to produce palm oil here, says visiting Malaysian Minister

Sub: Geo

Sec:  Eco geo

Context:

• India and Malaysia agreed to enhance cooperation in oil palm cultivation and palm oil production and trade.

Details:

• The ministers discussed India’s National Mission on Edible Oils and plans to increase oil palm cultivation.
• Malaysia offered its expertise in research, seed supply, and partnership management to support India’s efforts.
• The versatile uses of palm oil include edible oil and biofuel.
• Malaysia exports 14.8 million tonnes of palm oil, with 3 million tonnes going to India, its biggest partner.
• Malaysia ensures its palm oil meets sustainability standards, using no new land for cultivation and halting deforestation.

Oil Palm Production in India:

• Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis), originated in West Africa is comparatively a new crop in India and has the highest vegetable oil-yielding capability per ha.
• It produces two distinct oils, i.e., palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are used for culinary as well as industrial purposes.
• Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala are major Oil palm-growing States and account for 98% of total production.
• Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and Mizoram also have sizable areas under Oil palm cultivation.

National Mission on Edible Oils- Oil Palm (NMEO-OP):

• Launched by the Government of India in August 2021, NMEO-OP targets a substantial increase in oil palm cultivation and crude palm oil production.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a special focus on the Northeast region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with a focus on increasing the area and productivity of oilseeds and Oil Palm. 
• Scheme Outlay: A financial outlay of Rs. 11,040 crores has been made for the scheme, out of which Rs. 8,844 crore is the Government of India share and Rs. 2,196 crore is the State share, and this includes the viability gap funding also.
• Targets:
  • To increase the area of oil palm to 10 lakh hectares from 3.5 lakh ha during 2019-20 by 2025-26 (an additional 6.50 lakh ha).
  • To increase the Crude Palm Oil production from 0.27 lakh tonnes during 2019-20 to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26.
  • Increase consumer awareness to maintain a consumption level of 19.00 kg/person/annum till 2025-26.
• The State Department of Agriculture, State Department of Horticulture, Central University, ICAR-Institutions, CDDs, SAUs, KVKs, Central Agencies/Cooperatives, Oil palm processors/ Associations, DD Kisan, AIR, DD, TV channels will be the implementing stakeholders of the NMEO-Oil palm.
• Features: The salient features of NMEO-OP include assistance for planting material, inputs for intercropping upto gestation period of 4 years and for maintenance, the establishment of seed gardens, nurseries, micro irrigation, bore well/pump set/water harvesting structure, vermicompost units, solar pumps, harvesting tools, custom hiring centre cum harvester Groups, farmers and officers training, and for replanting of old oil palm gardens etc.