Scientists aim at boosting oil seeds productivity

India is importing 15 million tonnes of oil annually and a big chunk of it constitutes palm oil which is largely perceived as not healthy for human consumption

Rajendranagar: Underlining the need to focus on increasing the productivity of oilseed crops in the country, Dr Tirlochan Mahapatra, Secretary, DARE (Department of Agricultural Research & Education) and Director-General of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), said, "India's agrarian economy greatly influences not only the food production system but all the other interrelated sectors of the country."

Addressing a two-day national seminar on 'Technolgical Innovations in Oilseed Crops for Enhancing Productivity, Profitability and Nutritional Security' at Prof Jaishankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) Auditorium, Rajendranagar, Dr Mahapatra said, "India is importing 15 million tonnes of oil annually and a big chunk of it constitutes palm oil which is largely perceived as not healthy for human consumption. Basically, we are responsible for the present scenario created out of the oil consumption and the ever-increasing demand, thereby leading to huge imports," he added.

Elaborating the contrast between the standard regulatory advice and the consumption of oil in India, Dr Mahapatra recalled that although the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institute of Nutrition recommended consumption of 11 kg of oil per person per year as a healthy level of intake, the Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research Balram Bhargawa during a meeting had advised him otherwise.

"According to Bhargava, who is also a heart specialist, we don't even go up to that much, as more than 9 kg of oil consumption is not good for the health. If you can confine your consumption to half a kg per month, it would not go beyond the limit of 6 kg per person per year. So, even if we go with a consumption of 6 kg that is considered as ideal for our heart and other organs, the large part of the intake that is around 60 to 70 per cent is again the same palm oil. So out of the 15 million tonnes of oil which we are importing is largely a palm oil," he elaborated.

Dr A Vishnuvardhan Reddy, Director, ICAR-IIOR (Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research), Hyderabad, provided the status and background of vegetable oils in the country. The seminar was jointly organised by the Indian Society of Oilseeds Research Rajendranagar and ICAR-IIOR.

According to official data, India is one of the largest oilseeds producing countries with largest area under oilseeds and contributes about 6-7% of the world oilseeds production. India has the distinction of having highest production and consumption of oilseeds and vegetable oils. Oilseeds are cultivated in 25.51 million ha with a production of 32.24 million tonnes with a productivity of 1264 kg/ha from nine annual oilseed crops (2018-19).

Currently, the vegetable oil need of the country is being met from more than 60% imports (15 million t.) at a cost of Rs.69000 crores on import bill (2018-19).

Books on research work by scientists of ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research under the supervision of Director A Vishnuvardhan Reddy were launched by the dignitaries on occasion.

The other dignitaries grace the dais are Former Secretary DARE, Former DG ICAR Dr.Panjab Singh, Dr.V.Praveen Rao Vice Chancellor PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Editor General of Oilseed Research Dr.Dinish Kumar and General Secretary ICAR-IIOR Dr.Sujatha beside other senior scientists and research scholars among the audiences.