Executive Summary:
This document presents the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 31 regarding oil palm cultivation in the North Eastern Region (NER) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, answered on July 22nd, 2025. It addresses assessments on water level and quality changes, biodiversity impacts, and reasons for farmers discontinuing oil palm farming. The statement clarifies the government's position and actions related to oil palm cultivation.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Assessments on Water Level and Quality:**
* A 2020 study by the ICAR-IIOPR assessed potential oil palm cultivation areas using weather and soil parameters.
* Oil palm cultivation requires less water compared to crops like banana, sugarcane, and paddy.
* **Biodiversity Impact:**
* Oil palm cultivation is recommended on non-forest and agricultural lands, replacing low-value crops.
* Oil palm cultivation is reported to increase green cover and enhance carbon sequestration.
* **Farmers Discontinuing Oil Palm Farming:**
* Specific data on farmers discontinuing oil palm farming in NER and Andaman and Nicobar Islands is not centrally maintained as agriculture is a state subject.
* Challenges include a longer gestation period and competing crops.
* **National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEOOP):**
* Measures to address challenges include financial assistance for intercropping and inputs during gestation years.
* Establishment of seed gardens, viability gap funding for mills, and assured buyback by industry partners are provisioned.
Impact Analysis:
Stakeholder: Farmers in NER and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
* Impact: Farmers are provided with information on the environmental impacts of oil palm cultivation and the support available through the NMEOOP. Those who have discontinued oil palm farming may find incentives to resume cultivation.
* Action Required: Farmers should assess the benefits of NMEOOP, including financial assistance and buyback guarantees, when considering oil palm cultivation.
Stakeholder: State Governments
* Impact: State governments are responsible for the implementation of agricultural policies, including those related to oil palm cultivation.
* Action Required: State governments need to implement NMEOOP effectively and maintain data on farmers involved in oil palm cultivation.
Stakeholder: ICAR-IIOPR
* Impact: ICAR-IIOPR is responsible for conducting studies and providing recommendations on sustainable oil palm cultivation practices.
* Action Required: Continue to assess the environmental impact of oil palm cultivation and provide guidance on best practices.
Stakeholder: Industry Partners
* Impact: Industry partners are involved in establishing mills and ensuring the buyback of produce.
* Action Required: Adhere to buyback agreements and support farmers in sustainable oil palm cultivation practices.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the starred question regarding Oil Palm Cultivation.
SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN: Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, responsible for answering the question.
North Eastern Region: A region in India where assessments on changes in quality and water level due to Oil Palm cultivation were conducted.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: An Indian Union Territory where assessments on changes in quality and water level due to Oil Palm cultivation were conducted.
ICARIndian Institute of Oil Palm Research IIOPR: Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, which conducted a study to assess the potential area of oil palm cultivation.
National Mission on Edible Oils Oil Palm NMEOOP: A government initiative to address the challenges in oil palm cultivation, including financial assistance and assured buyback of produce.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the starred question was raised and answered.
Oil Palm Cultivation: The central topic of the policy document, referring to the growing of oil palm trees for oil production, and its impact on water, biodiversity and farmers
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 31
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025
OIL PALM CULTIVATION
*31. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any assessments on changes in the quality
and water level in the North Eastern Region (NER) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands where
Oil Palm cultivation is carried out/done, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has undertaken any studies to assess the change in
biodiversity in areas where oil palm cultivation is undertaken in the NER and Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details regarding the number of farmers who reportedly gave up Oil Palm farming
in the above mentioned areas along with the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 31 FOR 22NDJULY, 2025 REGARDING “OIL PALM
CULTIVATION”.
(a): The Reassessment Committee of ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR)
has conducted a study in 2020 to assess the potential area of oil palm cultivation in the
country including North-Eastern States and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands using weather
and soil parameters like, rainfall, minimum temperature, length of continuous dry period, soil
depth and slope (for rainfed conditions) and ground water level, rainfall, minimum
temperature, double /triple cropped areas (for irrigated conditions). Spatial digital maps were
prepared with the help of above-mentioned weather and soil parameters by using remote
sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques for arriving at potential areas
for oil palm cultivation in India. Oil palm cultivation does not adversely affect the water
availability, as it requires less water compared to that crops like banana, sugarcane and
paddy.
(b): Oil palm cultivation is recommended strictly on non-forest lands and agricultural lands
by replacing or initially inter-cropping with low-value crops. Since Oil palm is not being
promoted in forest areas, concerns related to biodiversity loss are mitigated. As reported by
ICAR, oil palm cultivation contributes to increasing green cover and enhancing carbon
sequestration.
(c): Agriculture is a state subject. Specific data on the number of farmers discontinuing oil
palm farming in NER and Andaman and Nicobar Islands is not centrally maintained.
However, some common challenges in cultivation of oil palm on farmer fields is longer
gestation period, competing crops etc.
Under National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), several measures have
been introduced to address the challenges including substantial financial assistance for
intercropping and inputs during gestation years, establishment of seed gardens, and
provision of viability gap, funding for establishment of mills and assured buy-back of produce
by industry partners.
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