Lok Sabha Question No. 3856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: National Mission on Edible Oils
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi, Pradyut Bordoloi, Agatha K. Sangma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3856

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## NATIONAL MISSION ON EDIBLE OILS

3856. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI: SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI: SHRI KUMARI AGATHA K. SANGMA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE ANDFARMERSWELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)  the reasons for selecting the North-East regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm;
- (b)   whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  adverse  impact  of  oil  palm  plantations  on biodiversity and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)   whether  the  Government  has  or  intends  to  implement  measures  to  mitigate  the  adverse effects of oil palm plantations; and
- (d)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

(SHRI NARENDERA SINGH TOMAR)

(a to d):  In the year 2020, the Reassessment Committee of ICAR-IIOPR has conducted a study to assess the potential area of Oilpalm cultivation in the country including North-Eastern States and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As per the report of Reassessment Committee, a total 22 States have been identified with 27.99 lakh ha as having a potential area for Oil Palm cultivation in India.

The Reassessment Committee of ICAR-IIOPR, 2020 identified land suitable for oil palm cultivation under irrigated and rainfed condition keeping the various parameters such as Remote Sensing (RS), Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Under irrigated condition, ground water level,  rainfall  (annual),  minimum temperature, Double/Triple cropped areas were taken as key parameters. In case of rainfed category, the five parameters viz; rainfall, minimum temperature, elevation,  slope,  soil  depth,  and  length  of  continuous  dry  period  were  identified  to  delineate potential regions. Under rainfed conditions, oil palm requires around 1800 mm of rainfall at the rate of 150 mm per month. Even under irrigated conditions, rainfall is considered as an important parameter with 7% weightage since it contributes water supply in lieu of ground water at least during rainy period.  As  per  ICAR-IIOPR, rainfall  suitability  classes  have  been  categorized  as  >1000  mm (highly suitable), 601-1000 (moderately suitable) and <600 mm (Not suitable) based on the IMD rainfall  data  collected  from  historical  normal  (1950-2000)  and  minimum  temperature  data  of ICAR-CRIDA for the period 1969-2000. The National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has been launched with the  aim  to  augment  the  availability  of  edible  oil  in  the  country  by  harnessing  area  expansion, increasing  crude  palm  oil  production  with  the  aim  to  reduce  the  import  burden.    The  salient features  of  NMEO-Oil  palm  include  assistance  for  planting  material,  inputs  for  intercropping upto gestation period of 4 years and for maintenance, establishment of seed gardens, nurseries, micro  irrigation, bore well/pumpset/water harvesting structure, vermi compost  units, solar pumps,  harvesting  tools,  custom  hiring  centre  cum  harvester  Groups,  farmers  and  officers training, and for replanting of old oil palm gardens etc. The  total  approved  cost  of  the  NMEO  (Oil  Palm)  Scheme  is ₹ which ₹ 8844 crore is Central share and ₹ of Rs 10422.69 lakh has been approved for various state annual action plans.

11,040  crore,  out  of 2196 crore state share. For the year 2021-22, a total No forest land is recommended for oil palm cultivation.

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