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) is approved with the aim to enhance the edible oilseeds production and oils availability in the country
by harnessing Oil Palm area expansion, increasing CPO production and to reduce import burden on edible oils. It will focus on increasing edible oil production from Oil Palm.
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 stake holders of the NMEO-Oil palm.
Target of National Mission on Edible Oils(NMEO-OP)
Around 9 MT of palm oil is imported every year to the tune of Rs. 40,000 crore which is around 56 % of the total imports of edible oil.
At present against a total potential area of around 28 lakh hectares, only 3.70 lakh hectares is under oil palm cultivation.
The target fixed for Oil palm area expansion by 2025-26 under NMEO-Oil palm is given below:
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) of which it is targeted 3.22 lakh hectares for general state
and 3.28 lakh ha in North Eastern states with targeted FFBs production of 66.00 lakh tonnes.
To increase in 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 consumption level of 19.00 kg/person/annum till 2025-26.
Strategy
The strategy to implement the proposed NMEO-OP will include increasing production of seedlings by establishment of seed garden, nurseries of oil palm to assure domestic
availability of seedlings as per target fixed under NMEO-OP. Improving productivity of FFBs, increasing drip irrigation coverage under oil palm, diversification of area from
low yielding cereals crops to oil palm, inter-cropping during gestation period of 4 years, would provide economic return to the farmers when there is no production.
The scheme would be implemented in a mission mode through active involvement of all the stakeholders. Fund flow would be monitored to ensure that benefit of the Mission
reaches the targeted beneficiaries in time to achieve the targeted results.