Lok Sabha Question No. 31 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Oil Palm Cultivation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Pradyut Bordoloi

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

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 31

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  JULY, 2025

## OIL PALM CULTIVATION

* 31. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

- be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has conducted any assessments on changes in the quality and water level in the North Eastern Region (NER) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands where Oil Palm cultivation is carried out/done, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  studies  to  assess  the  change  in biodiversity in areas where oil palm cultivation is undertaken in the NER and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, if so, the details thereof; and the details regarding the number of farmers who reportedly gave up Oil Palm farming
- (c) in the above mentioned areas along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  31  FOR  22 ND JULY,  2025  REGARDING  'OIL  PALM

CULTIVATION'. (a): The Reassessment Committee of ICAR-Indian Institute of  Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) has conducted a study in 2020 to assess the potential area of oil palm cultivation in the country including North-Eastern States and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands using weather and soil parameters like, rainfall, minimum temperature, length of continuous dry period, soil depth  and  slope  (for  rainfed  conditions)  and  ground  water  level,  rainfall,  minimum temperature, double /triple cropped areas (for irrigated conditions). Spatial digital maps were prepared with the help of above-mentioned weather and soil parameters by using remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques for arriving at potential areas for  oil  palm  cultivation  in  India.  Oil  palm  cultivation  does  not  adversely  affect  the  water availability,  as  it  requires  less  water  compared  to  that  crops  like  banana,  sugarcane  and paddy. (b): Oil palm cultivation is recommended strictly on non-forest lands and agricultural lands by  replacing  or  initially  inter-cropping  with  low-value  crops.  Since  Oil  palm  is  not  being promoted in forest areas, concerns related to biodiversity loss are mitigated. As reported by ICAR,  oil  palm  cultivation  contributes  to  increasing  green  cover  and  enhancing  carbon sequestration. (c): Agriculture is a state subject. Specific data on the number of farmers discontinuing oil palm  farming  in  NER  and  Andaman  and  Nicobar  Islands  is  not  centrally  maintained. However,  some  common  challenges  in  cultivation  of  oil  palm  on  farmer  fields  is  longer gestation period, competing crops etc. Under National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), several measures have been  introduced  to  address  the  challenges  including  substantial  financial  assistance  for intercropping  and  inputs  during  gestation  years,  establishment  of  seed  gardens,  and provision of viability gap, funding for establishment of mills and assured buy-back of produce by industry partners.

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