National Workshop in Guwahati Drives Ambitious Push for Sustainable Oil Palm Cultivation in India

A two-day National Level Review and Workshop on Sustainable Oil Palm Cultivation, organized by the Department of Agriculture, Assam in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW), Government of India, concluded recently in Guwahati. The event attracted key stakeholders, including government representatives, private sector companies, farmers, and international organizations, all of whom gathered to discuss and promote sustainable oil palm cultivation practices in India.

The workshop kicked off with an interactive session that brought together oil palm farmers from various regions and industry leaders. Discussions focused on addressing challenges in the oil palm sector, sharing best practices, and reviewing the physical and financial performance of states under the National Mission on Edible Oil, Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). This session allowed stakeholders to identify bottlenecks in implementation and provided a platform for shaping future strategies to enhance the mission's effectiveness.

Addressing the participants, Assam’s Minister of Agriculture, Atul Bora, highlighted the economic significance of sustainable oil palm cultivation for the region. He highlighted Assam's leading role in the Northeast and across India in promoting this sector, assuring farmers of the government’s unwavering support. Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of DA&FW, Government of India, also underscored the national importance of oil palm cultivation to achieve self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oil production. He set an ambitious goal to increase India's domestic palm oil production from 2% to 20% within the next five to six years. 

Joint Secretary (Oilseeds) DA&FW, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, explained the key challenges in implementing NMEO-OP, advocating for stronger collaboration between states, farmers, and industries. Additionally, Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), Vijay Paul Sharma, discussed the economic benefits of oil palm cultivation, emphasizing the role of technology and sustainable practices in enhancing profitability.

A key session chaired by former DA&FW Secretary Sanjay Agrawal highlighted the importance of addressing policy and implementation challenges, stressing the need for better coordination among stakeholders. The workshop also showcased technological innovations such as Shell Gene technology, which could significantly improve oil palm sapling quality and yields.

International experts from the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) provided valuable insights into global trends and sustainable practices. The event concluded with optimism, as discussions centered on scaling up domestic production through public-private partnerships and leveraging downstream industries to drive economic growth while ensuring sustainability.