The oil palm mission started by the Centre in 2020-21 has started gaining traction particularly after the edible oil import was hit due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Karnataka had conceived the idea of palm oil mission about 35 years ago, though it did not succeed due to various reasons. Experts suggest that Karnataka should revive the mission as it has a conducive environment for oil palm cultivation which can also contribute to increasing farmers’ incomes.
The idea of the mission had taken shape in 1985 when then Horticulture Minister B. Somashekhar visited the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) in Kasaragod, Kerala, to interact with scientists. He had formed a committee headed by noted scientist P. Rethinam of the CPCRI to study the feasibility in Karnataka.
