India’s palm oil use rises to 38% of total edible oil consumption: APOA
India’s palm oil consumption has surged to 38% of total edible oil intake, Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA) stated. India, the world’s largest palm oil importer, consumes 24-25 million tonnes of edible oil annually, with 9 million tonnes being palm oil. To reduce imports, India aims to increase domestic palm oil production to 1.12 million tonnes by 2025-26 under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm. Industry experts highlight the need to dispel myths harming palm oil’s reputation.
Indore: India’s palm oil consumption has increased to around 38 per cent of the total edible oil consumption, said Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA) on Friday claiming increase in domestic cultivation of palm oil may cut down edible oil imports.
APOA is an apex edible oil industry association formed by five major palm oil importing countries India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal with an aim to promote cultivation of palm oil and safeguard the economic interest of palm oil and marginal farmers associated with cultivation of the vegetable oil.
India’s annual domestic consumption of edible oil is around 24-25 million tonne of which 9 million tonne is palm oil.
To meet the domestic demand, India imports around 15-16 million tonne edible oil annually, according to APOA. Atleast 9-10 million tonne additional edible oil is required annually to bridge the deficit in domestic demand.
“India is the world’s largest importer of palm oil and is committed to becoming selfsufficient in edible oil production. Palm oil has been a staple in various food and nonfood products in India for centuries.
Though in recent years, misleading reports about its impact on health, nutrition and environment have surfaced, causing harm to marginal farmers and the economy,” said APOA chairman Atul Chaturvedi.
Under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), govt of India is aiming to push production of palm oil to 1.12 million tonne, covering close to 1.0 million hectare by 2025-26.
“We have created an Indian palm oil sustainability standards platform and have asked the govt to adopt it. Despite its pivotal role, palm oil faces negative perceptions fueled by myths regarding its environmental and health impacts. These misconceptions not only harm the industry’s reputation but affect the Indian economy. We along with an agri conglomerate are working with thousands of farmers who have taken palm cultivation in India,” said Dr Shatadru Chattopadhyay, managing director, Solidaridad Asia, an international civil society organisation working to facilitate development of socially responsible, ecologically sound and profitable supply chains.
Industry players from the oil industry spoke about usage of palm oil and cultivation adopted by farmers in India in a conference held by Solidaridad, APOA and Solvent Extractors’ Association on Friday.
“Palm oil gives 5-10 per cent higher oil production than other oil seeds and it can help India achieve self-sufficiency in domestic consumption because its consumption is growing significantly and economic costing makes it a perfect vegetable oil for consumption,” said APOA secretary general Suresh Motwani.
Recommended for you
