Palm oil import up by 9.32 percent: SCDA

The import of palm oil increased by 9.32 percent during the period July-September, 2003.
This was stated in a working paper compiled by Sindh Coastal Development Authority (SCDA) and presented before the first meeting of Technical Committee of Task Force which met here under the chairmanship of Director General, SCDA, Munawar and convener of Technical Committee.
According to the paper, the import of palm oil during July-September 2003 stood at 326,767 tons costing $146.704 million as compared to 298,905 tons imported during the same period last year at a cost of $125.134 million.
Similarly, 13,245 tons soybean oil of total value of $7.221 million was imported during July-September, 2003, compared to 4,821 tons costing $1.698 million during the same period of 2002--showing an increase of 8,424 tons quantity-wise.
The Technical Committee was constituted by Sindh Minister for Planning and Development for the promotion of oil palm plantation in coastal districts of Badin and Thatta.
Its objectives were:
-- to identify potential areas suitable for establishment of oil palm plantation in coastal areas of Thatta and Badin districts;
-- to seek ways and strategic measures to boost oil palm plantation in the virgin coastal belt of Thatta and Badin districts;
-- to conduct survey regarding areas under oil palm plantation with trees population, planted earlier and their status/condition;
-- to make efforts for erection of oil extraction unit (OEU), so that scope of oil palm plantation could be created;
-- to launch wide projections and demonstrations/programmes for motivating/inducing local growers for oil palm plantation;
-- to arrange credit facilities for growers particularly for oil palm plantation;
-- to disseminate technical know-how in the field of oil palm and recommending the annual and biannual crops to be grown as inter-cropping for continuing income generating activity till the major plantation of oil palm matures;
-- to provide and secure marketing outlets for oil palm produce;
-- to seek assistance from any department or organisation having expertise in the subject matter;
-- to take up any other issue relevant to the enhancement/ boosting of oil palm plantation.
The Technical Committee was informed by the convener that total bill of import of edible oil stood at around Rs 50 billion per annum and will increase by 7 percent as consumption would certainly rise because of increase in population.
Currently, the imports stand at 1.7 million tons, and 0.7 million tons is met by local produce.
The meeting was informed that 330 km long coastal belt of Sindh has great earning potential from fisheries as well as coconut and oil palm plantation. This can bring not only prosperity to the coastal areas but can also help earn foreign exchange, along with saving huge and precious revenues being currently spent on import of edible oil from foreign countries every year.
It was also informed that the technical name of oil palm is Elaeies guineesis, while its family name is Palmae.
Oilpalm basically is a native of West Africa where wild palm is still harvested. The oil palm grows under tropical conditions that is hot and humid, and it thrives best under the temperature ranging between 17 degrees C and 35 degrees C temperature.
Below and above this range will cause stunted growth, low yield, poor quality of seeds and burning of trees in severe temperatures and frost conditions. The coastal belt of Sindh is best suited for both oil palm and coconut palm.
The meeting was told that global statistics of palm oil products denotes that Malaysia is the leading country, producing 65 percent of total palm oil production.
In Malaysia, oil palm is the leading agriculture crop. About one-third cultivated area has been brought under oil palm plantation which is 2 million hectares with a yield of 8 million tons palm oil.
The SCDA working paper also said that Malaysian experts who visited Pakistan during 1995 and 1999 for technical expertise, guidance and identification of the potential areas suitable for oil palm plantation, had identified and were of the view that the areas of Thatta, Badin Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad districts are suitable for oil palm plantation, subject to availability of freshwater, proper reclamation of soil drainage, and application of agro management inputs in adequate quantity.
First-time oil palm seeds to the tune of 500 Nos were imported from Malaysia by SCDA during 1996, which were grown in nursery at Tando Mohammad Khan and transplanted in field at Gharko farm during 1997, which has attained fruiting age.
During 1996, an oil palm development pilot project was initiated by SCDA in collaboration with Pakistan Oilseed Development Board (PODB), which was funded by Minfal, with the target of raising one million oil palm seedlings to be sold at subsidy rate of Rs 35 per plant to government as well as private growers during a project life of 7 years.
The purpose of the project was to introduce oil palm species for promotion of edible oil in order to save foreign earnings being incurred on import of edible oil worth Rs 40 billion (now Rs 50 billion) per annum.
This project was executed by the SCDA from 1996 to June 2001, and thereafter transferred to the PODB for implementation.
According to fresh figures, oil palm is planted on 450 acres of the CDA farms and 550 acres of private farms.
The meeting was informed that CDA has proposed a project for establishment of perennial nursery to the tune of 0.5 million saplings plus oil palm plantation on 2000 acres at four different locations along with a field mill in coastal areas of Sindh, hopefully to be reflected in coming ADP 2004-05, which will serve as a model for creating awareness among local coastal growers, who are reluctant for the moment that oil palms have any demand in the market.
The SCDA working paper says that oil palm produces inflorescence throughout the year, starts bearing fruit after 4-3 years of plantation and fully matures after 7 years of plantation.
The production economics as worked out by the SCDA is average 70 trees per acre; average number of fresh fruit bunch per tree 9; per acre total number of bunches 630; and average weight 15 kg and expected oil production 1.70 tons.
The farmers can go ahead with inter-cropping so that immediate income is generated, the meeting was informed.
The expected yield per acre of oil palm is 180 maunds, with 18 percent to 20 percent extraction of oil, resulting in 36 maunds, which could give safely Rs 30,480 as income per year at the rate of Rs 1,400 per maund of extracted oil. This income is besides the income generated from inter-cropping.
The convener of the Technical Committee, informed the meeting that 1.380 million acres suitable land identified and reported by Malaysian experts is still expected to be available in Sindh and total oil production is expected to be at 2.345 million tons, with a current value of Rs 82,075 million.
The meeting took stock of the position of per capita edible oil consumption, which in Pakistan is 12.2 kg/soul, while it is 8 kg in India and 8 kg in Bangladesh.