India currently produces palm oil on more than 3,00,000 hectares of land and plans to cover an additional area of 6,50,000 hectares by 2025-26. But, the palm oil mission proposes to cover an additional area of 6.5 lakh hectares by 2025-26 to increase crude palm oil (CPO) production to 11.2 lakh tonnes by 2025-26 and up to 28 lakh tonnes by 2029-30.
Will India’s palm oil production triple in 6 years?
India’s palm oil production is projected to triple within 6 years as the area under oil palm plantations expands and existing plantations mature for harvesting, according to a senior industry official. As the world’s largest edible oil importer, India relies heavily on imports from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
How has the Indian Oil palm industry expanded area coverage?
The Indian oil palm industry has expanded area coverage under oil palm (OP) cultivation slowly but steadily in the past 34 years by focussing on yield improvement of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) of oil palm, technology improvement and sustainability. OP area grew from 8,585 hectares (ha.) in 1991-92 to four lakh ha. (approximately) till March 2024.
How many hectares are under oil palm cultivation in India?
Out of the total assessed area, only 3.69 lakh hectares is under oil palm cultivation including NE states at present only of which 1.8 lakh ha is fruiting area. Hence there is a lot of potential for the growth of oil palm in the country. 26 and 16.71 lakh ha by 2029-30.
Where is palm oil grown in India?
The government has also announced that ecologically sensitive northeastern states and eastern archipelago of the Andaman and Nicobar islands will be used for cultivation of the oil. India currently produces palm oil on more than 3,00,000 hectares of land and plans to cover an additional area of 6,50,000 hectares by 2025-26.
How to boost oil palm cultivation in India?
To boost oil palm cultivation, Government of India had implemented a Special Programme on Oil Palm Area Expansion (OPAE) under RKVY with an objective to bring 60,000 ha area under Oil Palm cultivation during the year 2011-12. It was continued till March, 2014.