National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

About National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

• Launched by the Government of India in August 2021, NMEO-OP targets a substantial increase in oil palm cultivation and crude palm oil production.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a special focus on the North east region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with a focus on increasing the area and productivity of oilseeds and Oil Palm. 
• Scheme Outlay: A financial outlay of Rs. 11,040 crores have been made for the scheme, out of which Rs. 8,844 crore is the Government of India share and Rs. 2,196 crore is the State share, and this includes the viability gap funding also.
• Targets:
  • To increase the area of oil palm to 10 lakh hectares from 3.5 lakh ha during 2019-20 by 2025-26 (an additional 6.50 lakh ha). 
  • To increase the Crude Palm Oil production from 0.27 lakh tonnes during 2019-20 to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26.
  • Increase consumer awareness to maintain a consumption level of 19.00 kg/person/annum till 2025-26.
• The State Department of Agriculture, State Department of Horticulture, Central University, ICAR-Institutions, CDDs, SAUs, KVKs, Central Agencies/Cooperatives, Oil palm processors/ Associations, DD Kisan, AIR, DD, TV channels will be the implementing stake holders of the NMEO-Oil palm.
• Features: The salient features of NMEO-OP include assistance for planting material, inputs for intercropping upto gestation period of 4 years and for maintenance, establishment of seed gardens, nurseries, micro irrigation, bore well/pumpset/water harvesting structure, vermi compost units, solar pumps, harvesting tools, custom hiring centre cum harvester Groups, farmers and officers training, and for replanting of old oil palm gardens etc.

Oil Palm Production in India

• Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis), originated in West Africa is comparatively a new crop in India and has the highest vegetable oil yielding capability per ha.
• It produces two distinct oils, i.e., palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are used for culinary as well as industrial purposes. 
• Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala are major Oil palm-growing States and account for 98% of total production. 
• Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and Mizoram also have sizable area under Oil palm cultivation.

Q1) What is intercropping?

Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity. The most common goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield on a given piece of land by making effective use of resources without affecting the yield of the main crop.

Source: PM Modi Inaugurates India’s First Oil Palm Processing Mill Under National Mission on Edible Oil