Bharat Dogra makes a strong case for growing indigenous trees which provide edible oils instead of promoting palm oil that can be ecologically disruptive.
In recent times, the government of India has been largely promoting plantation of exotic palm oil trees to end edible oil shortage in the country. However this comes at an ecological cost as experienced by several countries. Palm oil trees need heavy rainfall and if there is a shortage it will lead to extraction of already scarce groundwater.
A better option would be to explore the potential of several indigenous trees in India, which yield oilseeds from which edible oil can be obtained. There are many indigenous trees which can provide edible oils, such as mahua, karanj, sal, kokum, kusum etc. (not to mention coconut, which is already well established as a supplier of edible oil). Some of these trees are known and some are not so well-known and need to be explored further. The edible oil obtained from some of these trees is known to have high nutritional value as they are rich in poly unsaturated fats.
Availability of edible oils can increase significantly even from existing trees. Efforts have to be made to increase their numbers so as to increase the availability of edible oil for domestic use as well as for export markets.
However it may not be a good idea to grow these trees as plantation crops as it will be harmful for biodiversity, environment and food security. It will be better for all families in a tribal community to grow two additional such trees each on their land. This way about 200 to 400 oilseed trees can grow in each village. As almost all of these trees have multiple uses for their fruits, flowers, seeds, leaves etc., benefits for the farmers and villagers will be multiple.
Cooperatives of farmers and villagers to collect oilseeds can be set up to ensure fair price. Instead of selling the seeds to big processors, they should be processed locally. Processing units should be set up in villages as it will generate sustainable livelihoods, while the residue (after oil extraction) will provide nutritive feed for animals and organic fertilizer for farms.
There are also trees like neem whose oil may not be used for cooking but has important medicinal uses. Then there are other trees which provide non-edible oil like soapnut trees; the oil from its berries (reetha) can be used for making soap.
Isn’t it irrational that the authorities are ignoring this potential but instead going in for the ecologically disruptive option of palm oil plantation?
The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food, Man over Machine and Planet in Peril.