India palm oil output to triple in 6 years as farmers plant more: Agrovet
India’s palm oil production is projected to triple, reaching 1.2 to 1.5 million metric tons by 2030-31, up from 400,000 tons currently. This increase is driven by expanding oil palm plantations and maturation of existing ones. The area under cultivation has grown to 375,000 hectares, with an additional 80,000 to 100,000 hectares expected this year, helping reduce reliance on imports.
India’s palm oil production is likely to triple in six years as the area under oil palm plantations increases and as plantations become mature for harvesting, a senior industry official said on Friday.
The world’s biggest edible oil importer relies on Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand for palm oil supplies. An increase in production will help India slash edible oil imports that account for nearly two-thirds of its total consumption.
India’s palm oil production is likely to jump to 1.2 to 1.5 million metric tons by 2030-31 from the current 400,000 tons, as farmers have been expanding the area, said Sougata Niyogi, chief executive officer of the oil palm plantation division at India’s biggest palm oil producer, Godrej Agrovet Ltd.
Oil palm trees start yielding fruit 3-4 years after planting, with yields increasing significantly at around 6 years.
The oil palm area has been rising at a rapid pace since New Delhi started providing incentives to farmers from 2021 to curb vegetable oil imports, which cost it $15 billion in the last fiscal year.
The area under oil palm cultivation increased to 375,000 hectares (926,600 acres) by last year, and an additional 80,000 to 100,000 hectares is likely to be added this year, Niyogi told Reuters on the sidelines of the Globoil India conference.
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