Vegetable oil demand in country to touch 17.7 million tonnes

Hisar, Aug 3 (UNI) In the next four years the total requirement of vegetable oils of the country is expected to be 17.7 million tonnes which is equivalent to 52 million tones of oilseeds.

Director General of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Dr Mangla Rai while stating this said that in the next 8-10 years, due to increase in population and improved standard of living of the people, the demand for vegetable oils was expected to grow at 5.5 to 6.0 per cent, and farm scientists had a great role to play in meeting the need.

Dr Rai was speaking after inaugurating the 13th annual research workers group meeting of rapeseed-mustard at Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) here today. Nearly 200 agricultural scientists working on rapeseed and mustard crops at various research centers of the country and agricultural universities, are taking part in this National meet.

The DG said that though the Indian farm scientists had done a great job in oilseeds production, yet the country would remain dependant upon the import of vegetable oils like palm oil if the country did not succeed in increasing oilseed production further. He said that during 2001-2005 the annual compound growth rate of rapeseed-mustard production in the country was 18.9 per cent which was the highest compared to cerealsand pulses.

Despite this development, the country was still importing nearly 40 per cent of the domestic edible oils need, he added. To improve the situation, he called upon scientists to critically analyse the factors affecting the productivity level and exploit the untapped reservoir through technology dissemination, focused research programme, market surveillance and value addition.

He also stressed on developing hybrid varieties, which are known for high yields and other superior characteristics apart from increasing the nector content in the flowers of these crops to attract more honeybees, which would help in pollination resulting in increased production.

Dr Rai further expressed concern on the declining soil fertility and degeneration of useful soil microflora due to excessive use of various agrochemicals like insecticides and herbicides. To tackle all these problems, he expressed the need of inter-disciplinary researches involving scientists from other disciples. He also urged the scientists to prepare effective workplans for the ensuing 11th five year plan.

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