CONTEXT: Considering the growing domestic demand for edible oils, the staggering deficiency and the cost to the exchequer on account of imports, the urgency of scaling up the oil palm area is of National interest and does not need any over emphasis. Therefore, to fulfil the National interest, National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) was approved in 2021 with the aim to enhance the edible oilseeds production and oils availability in the country by harnessing Oil Palm area expansion, increasing Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production and to reduce import burden on edible oils.
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- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala are the major Oil palm growing States and account for 98% of the total production.
- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat and Mizoram also have a sizable area under Oil palm cultivation.
- Recently Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland have also initiated Oil palm plantation programmes.
Around 9 million tonnes of palm oil is imported every year which is around 56 % of the total imports of edible oil.
TARGET OF NMEO-OP:
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- To increase area of oil palm to 10 lakh hectares from 3.5 lakh ha during 2019-20 by 2025-26 (additional 6.50 lakh ha).
- To increase in Crude Palm Oil production from 0.27 lakh tonnes during 2019-20 to 11.20lakh tonnes by 2025-26 and 28 lakh tonnes by 2028-29.
- Increase consumer awareness to maintain consumption level of 19.00 kg/person/annum till 2025-26.
SALIENT FEATURES:
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SIGNIFICANCE:
India is the largest consumer of edible oils in the world. India’s production is far less than its consumption, necessitating its import. It forms India’s third largest import of which 55% is palm oil. The mission aims to make India self-sufficient in production of edible oils.
Over 94% of palm oil is used in food production. Also the projected demand for edible oils is expected to touch 20 million tonnes by 2030 due to increasing disposable income and changing food habits. Thus, the mission is of great significance even for growth of Food Processing Industry.
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