|
The
meeting felt that such a move would help India, which
recorded the lowest productivity per hectare (900 kg) of
cultivation.
On
the agenda of the meeting of solvent extractors was also
the review of the restrictions on import of palm oil
through Kerala ports.
Problems
faced by rice bran processors, coconut cultivators and
palm planters figured prominently on the agenda.
The
Pre-Budget memorandum suggested that the Oil Seeds
Development Fund be set up with a cess on imported edible
oil and “a comprehensive package of fiscal and other
measures may be initiated.”
The
meeting noted that despite vast acreage (25 to 26 million
hectares) under edible oil seeds cultivation, productivity
has been low and total production plunged to 23.9 million
tonnes in 2006-07 from 27.9 million tonnes in 2005-06.
The
solvent extractors also pointed out that this year, total
vegetable oil import bill would be to the tune of
Rs.12,000 crore and might touch Rs.15,000 crore in the
next year owing to spiraling price of the commodity in the
international market.
The
vegetable industry has suggested several measures,
including development of oil palm.
If
oil palm is declared plantation crop by State governments,
it would help draw local entrepreneurs as well as foreign
investments.
Implementation
of the packaging order passed in 1988 had been left to the
State governments to implement.
However,
a move recently by the governments of Uttar Pradesh and
Gujarat had created a furor in some segments of the
industry.
Therefore,
the vegetable oil industry has appealed to the government
to implement the packaging order in a phased manner so
that no segment of the industry was put into difficulty.
At
the same time, adulteration can be checked and overall
quality improved through the implementation of the rules.
Source
: The Hindu, India dated 13/02/2008
|
