Question : PRODUCTION OF OIL PALM

(a) the production of oil palm in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has set any target regarding production of oil palm in the country during the 12th Five Year Plan period, if so, the details and the present status thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to fix procurement price for oil palm in view of its plummeting market price over the months, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether any requests/representations have been received from States for inclusion of oil palm in the list of crops getting Minimum Support Price, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon; and

(e) the measures taken/being taken by the Government increase the production of oil palm in order to reduce the dependence on import of palm oil in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA)

(a): The State-wise details of production of crude palm oil (CPO) during each of the last three years are given in Annexure.

(b): No targets have been fixed for production of crude palm oil during 12th Five Year Plan. However, it is targeted to bring an additional area of 1.25 lakhs hectare under oil palm cultivation during 12th Five Year Plan. During the first two years from 2012-13 to 2013-14 of 12th Five Year Plan, 49,248 hectare area has been brought under oil palm cultivation.

(c): Oil palm is covered under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), which is implemented by Ministry of Agriculture on the request of the State Governments, for procurement of perishable agricultural and horticultural commodities in the event of fall in market prices. Government of India has recommended a formula for pricing of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) of oil palm to the State Governments.

(d): No such representations have been received in last two years.

(e): In order to promote cultivation of oil palm, Government of India has launched the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) in 2014-15 in the country.