Palm Oil a gift of nature

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), is the crop of the present and future vegetable oil economy of world as well as India. A native of West Africa and popularly known as African oil palm or Red oil palm, it is known to be the highest edible oil yielding perennial crop.

Palm oil is derived from fleshy mesocarp of the fruit, which contains about 45-55% of oil and is rich in antioxidants & vitamins, one of which is vitamin E, which is critical for keeping immune system healthy. The Palm Kernel Oil, obtained from the kernel of stony seed, is a potential source of lauric oil. Both these oils have edible value and are in great demand.

Why Oil palm?

Palm oil has good consumer acceptance as cooking medium because of its price advantage. It is a good raw material for manufacturing oleo chemicals used in making soaps, candles, plasticizes etc. It has a variety of uses,ranging from edible oil, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals to bio-fuel and bio-lubricant.

Palm oil is a major edible oil produced in the world and accounts for 35% (75.50 MMT) of world edible oil production (2021-22) and is used for both food (72%) & non-food (28%) purposes. A substantial portion of country's requirement of edible oil is met through import of palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia. More than 70% of our total vegetable oil import constitutes palm oil.

Oil Palm in Telangana - the way forward

Oil palm Area expansion is one of the Flagship programmes of the State. With the increased irrigation potential and considering the need for crop diversification to the demanded crops, the Telangana government is contemplating to take up Oil Palm cultivation in mission mode to meet the edible oil demand of the state and to contribute considerably to the nation.

Aims and Objectives

• To augment the availability of vegetable oils in the state.
• To cut down the import of edible oils by increasing domestic production and productivity of Oil palm.
• To promote crop diversification.

NMEO-OP - Program

Govt. of India has launched NMEO-OP in 2021-22 and now, the programme is being implemented in the entire State (except Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri). Considering the potentiality, it is proposed to promote oil palm in Telangana in a big way.

Under this mission, assistance will be provided for taking up area expansion, maintenance of oil palm gardens & inter-cropping for the initial (4) years, establishment of seed garden & Nurseries, Custom Hiring Centers, Capacity building for farmers & Department Officials, etc.

Area covered in Telangana under Oil palm till 2023-24 is in around 2.03 lakh acres, of which area covered under NMEO-OP i.e, 2021-22 to 2023-24 in the State is 1,56,927 ac (44,177 farmers).