September 7, 2007

 

India eyeing GM soy for oilseed processing

 

 

Oilseeds processors in India are studying the potential of genetically-modified soybeans following the success of GM seeds in increasing cotton yields.

  

According to Davish Jain, chairman of the Central Organisation for Oil Industry & Trade (COOIT), the apex body of the edible oils and oilseeds trade said GM seeds can possibly boost oilseeds output.

 

COOIT has ambitiously targeted to reduce dependence on imports to 20 percent of oilseeds in the years to come from 40 percent now. India imports about 4 to 4.5 million tonnes of its total requirements of 11 to 12 million tonnes from Malaysia and Indonesia.

 

India's edible oil production was likely to decline by 5 percent to 6.8 million tonnes in the oil year 2006-07 (November-October) compared with 7.1 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year. However, total edible oil consumption in the country is expected to increase by 2 per cent to 12.5 million tonnes in 2006-07 compared with 12.3 million tonnes in the previous year. The per capita consumption, however, is likely to remain unchanged at 11.16 kilograms.

 

Jain said COOIT also targets oilseed production at 40 million tonnes as well as increasing yield of other crops such as rapeseed, mustard and groundnut through transgenic seeds.

 

Jain further said that the oil body would also work closely with various state governments for the removal of VAT (value-added tax) on edible oil and oilseeds, besides, pitching for uniform food laws, rules and regulations for those whose oil units are located in more than one state. Other issues to be taken up include removal of distortions in food labelling and other such rules, bringing about an import duty regime and taking care of the interests of consumers, farmers and the industry alike.

 

The country's oilseed yields are around half of the world average and almost one-third of the leading producers in the world.

 

According to an FAO report, average yield of soybean in the country stood at 1.05 tonnes a hectare while Maharashtra proved to be the best performing state with a yield at 1.25 tonnes a hectare.

 

However, the world average stood at 2.27 tonnes a hectare. The average yield of mustard/rapeseed in the country was at 0.76 tonnes.

 

Haryana emerged as the best performer with 1.49 tonne a hectare against the world average of 1.52 tonnes. Besides, the country's average in groundnut production was at 0.94 tonnes in which Tamil Nadu recorded the highest at 1.72 tonnes against the world average of 1.40 tonne a hectare.