India palm oil output to triple in 6 years as farmers plant more, says Agrovet exec

India’s palm oil production is likely to triple in six years as the area under oil palm plantations increases and as plantations become mature for harvesting, a senior industry official said. The world’s biggest edible oil importer relies on Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand for palm oil supplies. An increase in production will help India slash edible oil imports that account for nearly two-thirds of its total consumption. India’s palm oil production is likely to jump to 1.2 to 1.5 million metric tons by 2030-31 from the current 400,000 tons, as farmers have been expanding the area, said Sougata Niyogi, chief executive officer of the oil palm plantation division at India’s biggest palm oil producer, Godrej Agrovet Ltd. Oil palm trees start yielding fruit 3-4 years after planting, with yields increasing significantly at around 6 years. The oil palm area has been rising at a rapid pace since New Delhi started providing incentives to farmers from 2021 to curb vegetable oil imports, ...