The Union Agriculture
Ministry will soon come out with an Action Plan to launch pilot
projects in different areas of the country to promote use of
bio-diesel as an alternative fuel. This was stated by the Agriculture
Minister Shri Ajit Singh while addressing the meeting of the
Parliamentary Consultative Committee of his Ministry here today.
The Committee discussed the prospects of "Oilseeds, Oil-bearing
Trees and Bio-fuels". Responding to the discussion on bio-fuels
Shri Ajit Singh said his Ministry will work out various details
including the technical and commercial linkages, cost of production
of bio-diesel etc. and will convene a meeting of the concerned
central and state government departments for early launching
of pilot projects. The Minister said Jatropha and Karanja plants
have been identified for large scale planting for extraction
of bio-diesel.
Shri Ajit Singh
expressed concern over the growing import of edible oils which
has increased from 0.52 million tonnes in 1990-91 to 4.21 million
tonnes in 2001-02. The Minister said the country accounts for
15% of world’s acreage under oil-seeds but the productivity
is a constraint as oil-seed crops are still being largely taken
up in non-irrigated areas. Shri Ajit Singh said that technology
mission oil-seeds has however, increased the production of oilseeds
from 10.83 million tonnes in 1985-86 to 24.75 million tonnes
in 1998-99. The productivity has improved from 570 kilograms
per hectare to 944 kilograms per hectare during the same period.
Drought conditions in major oil-seed growing states during the
last 3 years have affected the yields and the production in
2001-02 was 20.4 million tonnes. Shri Ajit Singh informed the
Committee that oilseeds production during the current year is
likely to be 15.4 million tonnes marking a decline of 25% on
account of drought.
To meet the growing
demand for edible oils, the Agriculture Minister said special
thrust will be given on promoting non-traditional sources of
vegetable oils and tree borne oilseeds. During the Tenth Plan
period, integrated development of tree-borne oil-seeds will
be given priority and different schemes will be initiated to
attract direct investment, create pre-processing facilities
for quality collection of seeds and create awareness about new
technologies and value addition etc. Mahua, Neem, Simarauba,
Cheura Wild-apricot etc. have been identified as potential sources
of vegetable oils with domestic quality.
Shri Ajit Singh
said Agriculture Ministry is exploring the contract farming
avenues to promote Oil Palm cultivation which is a perennial
source of edible oil, Mustard is also likely to be covered under
contract farming, the Minister said.
Sh/Shri K.P. Singh
Deo, Bhartruhari Mahatab, Chunni Lal Bhau Thakur, Haribhai Chaudhary,
all Members of the Lok Sabha and G.K. Vasan, and M.J. Varkey
Mattahil, Members of Rajya Sabha attended the Committee Meeting.
