Failure to increase oilseed output

Written by Dr Shoukat Ali

Although, Pakistan 80 per cent cultivatable area is irrigated but the edible oil needs are met through imports. The import bill rising from Rs77 million in 1969-70 to Rs39 billion in 2002-03 has overburdened the exchequer. 

In 1970-71, oilseeds occupied nearly 3 per cent of the total cultivated area which went down to 2.5 per cent by 2002-03. 

Nearly 30 per cent of the total need is met through local production, while 70 per cent by imports. In domestic production, the share of cottonseed is 70 per cent, that of rape and mustard including canola, etc 15.8 per cent. and sunflower and others 12.5 per cent. 

Depending upon the varieties or hybrid seed, oil content in cottonseed varies from 10-12 per cent, rape and mustard 36-41, canola 42, sunflower 32-36, safflower 17-32, groundnut up to 50, sesame 46-48, linseed 35-45, and coconut up to 50 per cent. 

No serious effort has been made to increase local production of oilseeds. Production of rape and mustard oilseeds has been neglected with the result that the area under these two varieties has declined from 470,000 hectare in 1975-76 to 281,000 hectare in 2002-03 and production from 267,000 ton to 235,000 ton during this period. 

The maximum area of 108,000 hectare under groundnut ever achieved in 1997-98 again declined to 86,000 hectares in 2002-03 resulting in production fall from 112,000 tons to 90,000 tons. 

Similarly, the maximum area of 136,000 hectare under sesame ever achieved in 2001-02, again fell to 88,000 hectares by the next year resulting in the reduction of production from 70,000 to 19,000 tons. 

Likewise, area under linseed dropped from 10,491 hectares in 1985-86 to 5,946 hectares in 2002-03 and production from 5,622 to 2,966 tons. The government established the Pakistan Oilseed Development Board in 1988 and other concerned organizations which are mostly concentrated on the improvement of non-traditional oilseeds like sunflower, safflower, soyabean, canola etc. 

As a result the area under sunflower increased from 31,418 hectare in 1990-91 to a maximum of 144,191 hectare in 1998-99 and, thereafter, declined to 107,717 hectare in 2002-03. 

Likewise, production of sunflower increased from 34,649 ton in 1990-91 to a maximum of 194,544 ton in 1998-99 and then fell to 128,531 ton in 2002-03. Similarly, area of 1,875 hectare under soyabean in 1990-91 increased to a maximum of 6,613 hectare in 1993-94 and declined to 1,320 hectare in 2002-03. Its production of 930 ton in 1990-91 reached to a maximum of 8,229 ton in 1997-98 and then declined to 1,898 ton in 2002-03. 

Similarly, maximum area of 8,751 hectare under linseed in 1991-92 declined to 5,946 hectares in 2002-03, with a corresponding decline in production from 4,365 tons to 2,966 tons during this period. 

The current area under canola is 24,291 hectare with a canola oil production of 18,000 ton. Consequently, overall production of oilseeds could not meet the increasing requirements due to declining area and production. Of the various causes inept policies are also to blame which have discouraging effect of support price and its non-availability to the growers. 

As a result growers are shifting to other crops. There also exist a vested interest that does not want the country to achieve autarky in edible oil as they earn money through smuggling, and commission on annual imports. 

All this reflects dismal oilseed production scenario. Even though the government in 1999-00 directed Minfal to achieve self- sufficiency within a year. Till today it could not be achieved as the powerful lobby in bureaucracy does not want it on the plea that imported oil is cheaper than the locally produced. 

The government must develop a practicable programme on war footing to achieve yellow revolution at the earliest to become self- sufficient in edible oil production. To achieve self sufficiency following measures are suggested: 

*Both, traditional and non-traditional oilseeds be brought under increased oilseed production programme on top priority. 

*Provide incentive for oilseeds and ensure that the industry procures oilseed from the farmers accordingly. 

*Improvement in extraction capabilities, especially in cottonseed oil where nearly 200,000 tons are lost in seed cake due to inefficient extraction through expellers. 

*Groundnut is not used for oil extraction rather is consumed orally. It contains 50 per cent oil and on extraction can provide over 40,000 tons of oil. 

*Local rape variety contains high content of erucic acid and glucosionate which are harmful for human health. It should be replaced with canola, a Canadian variety of rape with zero content of both these harmful chemicals. 

*Inter cropping of both rape and mustard should be done on 10- 12 feet apart rows or ridges in wheat and berseem. 

It will neither require additional water nor effect the yield of major crops. Similarly, soyabean can be inter cropped in cotton, sugarcane and maize. Various oil seeds can also be inter cropped in orchards. 

*Efforts should be made to increase edible maize oil production. Oil can also be extracted from rice bran which contains 15 per cent oil by using the Korean bran stabilizer technology. 

*High yielding, disease and pest resistant local or exotic oilseed varieties or hybrids should be introduced. High production inputs at subsidized rates and credit on easy terms need to be provided to farmers. 

Solvent industry should be involved in the promotion of oilseed crops with guaranteed procurement arrangement. Public sector should ensure support price if private sector does'nt. Import duty on soyabean and palm oil should be increased to encourage local production. 

*Efforts be made for high yielding sunflower and canola hybrids to reduce import bill of seeds. 

*Provision of farm machinery like planters, threshers, driers be made easier. 

*Action be taken to check smuggling of edible oil. 

*The PODB should be given more power and resources for dealing with all aspects of oilseed production to make the country self-sufficient.

Courtesy: The Dawn

Sesame Seed Oil

Sesame Seed Oil is also known as gingili oil or till oil, which is an edible vegetable oil with yellow color derived from sesame seeds. It is used in salad oils, as margarine, shortenings and a wide range of other food products. Besides, it is used as cooking oil in South India, a flavor enhancer in Chinese, Korean. Sesame seed oil is also popular as carrier oil found in aromatherapy, skin care and massage oils. You can even find sesame seed oils in cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, lotions and also suntan lotions. Referred to as benne in China, it is one of the most wide used oils available for cooking. Used for over 5000 years, the Chinese would utilize the oil in cooking only by dripping or sprinkling a little bit on soups or dishes which would release a beautiful fragrance and flavor to even the most dullest dishes. China was not the only famous culture that utilized Sesame Seed oil. It has been used extensively in India as healing oil. Sesame oil is used for massage and health treatments of the body (abhyanga and shirodhara) and teeth (oil pulling) in the ancient Indian ayurvedic system. Ayurveda views sesame oil as the most viscous of the plant oils and believes it may pacify the health problems associated with Vata aggravation. Sesame oil is said to be good for controlling high blood pressure, gastric, cholesterol and other health-related problems. 

This oil is sometimes found to be strong smelling by some, yet is a good source of vitamins E and B complex and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Sesame oil further contains protein as well as lecithin. Although it is a thick oil, it is used for eczema, psoriasis as well as older and mature skin and it contains excellent moisturizing properties. In folk medicine it has also been used to help fade blemishes. It is best mixed with another carrier oil, such as Almond or Grapeseed to make it a bit lighter. Sesame massage oil has great moisturizing, soothing and emollient qualities which makes it a good choice to include when mixing a massage oil or preparing a carrier oil blend. Sesame oil has some sun screening properties but should not be used as a sun screen preparation, unless in an emergency. Since it is a good source of vitamins and minerals we find it to be a good oil to use in a blend when preparing a massage base oil. 

TYPICAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SESAME OIL

FATTY ACIDS                  RANGE

Palmitic C-16:0                   7.0 to 12.0%

Palmitoleic C-16:1              Trace to 0.5%

Stearic C-18:0                    3.5 to 6.0%

Oleic C-18:1                      35.0 to 50.0%

Linoleic C-18:2                  35.0 to 50.0%

Linolenic C-18:3                Trace to 1.0%

Eicosenoic C-20:1             Trace to 1.0%

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Types Of Sesame Seeds

Hulled Vs. Unhulled- Sesame seeds can be either hulled or unhulled. Products made from unhulled seeds, such as butter and tahini paste, tend to be darker and more bitter than those made from the kernel alone. The hull has 51 milligrams more calcium than the seed, yet the type of calcium in the hull, oxalate, is not as easily absorbed by the body, according to The World's Healthiest Foods. Unhulled seeds should be preserved in an airtight, cool and dry environment. Hulled seeds tend to turn rancid and should be kept frozen or refrigerated. 

Black Sesame Seeds - Black sesame seeds produce a bold flavor. Black sesame seeds are believed to have medicinal properties and contain high levels of antioxidants. They are used to flavor baked goods and they also produce a powder that is very fragrant and has a bold flavor when the seeds are roasted and ground. The powder is often used on rice dishes, according to food site Tarladalal. The highest-quality oil is made from this type of sesame seed. Black sesame seeds sometimes are used as a substitute for nuts. 

White Sesame Seeds - Toasted sesame seeds are common in sushi rolls. White sesame seeds often are added to buns and breads and other baked goods, adding a crispy texture. In their powdered form, white sesame seeds are used in curry sauces, chutneys and rice, producing a milder flavor than the black variety. Toasted white sesame seeds are commonly added to sushi rolls. They are about 50 percent oil by weight. In China white sesame is called chi mah, and in Japan it is referred to as muki-goma, according to food site Chow.

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Rwanda: Good Tidings From Agriculture Sector

There was some good news from Parliament last week. On Thursday, Prime Minister Damien Habumuremyi presented the state of the agricultural sector before deputies and Senators. This is a sector that employs over 80 per cent of the populations.

Overall there was a marked increase in crop and animal production stemming off food scarcity recently witnessed in some countries in the region. Land consolidation, hillside and marshland irrigation and the use of fertilizers were cited as some of the key drivers that were behind the increase in agriculture production.

Consolidated land increased from 250ha in 2010 to the present 624ha while 54 per cent of the farmers currently use fertilizers.

Production of some crops like maize and Irish-potatoes has since doubled; Irish potato production increased from 8 tonnes per hectare in 2007 to 16 tonnes per hectare today. There was good progress in the livestock sector with increased milk production largely boosted by the One Cow per Family Programme.

The use of marsh land for crop production has also been a big boost to the sector. Maize production is expected to hit its peak, especially in the Eastern Province where marsh land was optimally utilised.

These are enviable developments in a sector that has largely attracted little investment from the private sector and the glaring reluctance by banks to finance agricultural projects that are considered risky undertakings.

Sustaining this growth calls for sustained efforts in designing policies that will entice more investments, especially from the private sector.

These should be policies that should ensure that agriculture sector is run as a viable business and not only for subsistence production.

Policy makers will have to play a key role for this to be achieved. Recently Mt Meru, an oil company, inaugurated an edible oil refining plant in the Eastern Province district of Kayonza. This is one of the biggest investments to be recorded in agriculture by the private sector.

Swayed by the friendly investment climate in the country and soils that are condusive for oil seed production, company owners are optimistic but say more needs to be done.

For the plant to operate at its maximum capacity, they say, it will require sustained supply of oil seed. They say the plant has the potential to benefit thousands of farmers if only the right policies are put in place.

In Tanzania where the company runs a similar business, the country's parliament has put in place policies that have helped boost production of oil seeds and incomes for small scale farmers.

In the 2011-2012 budgets, the Tanzanian government decided to levy zero rate VAT on edible oil made using local oil seeds. This means that the local manufacturer has a price advantage of 18 per cent over imported palm oil and can therefore, give a better price to local farmers who, in return enhance production of seeds.

This move led to a doubling of production in just one year. This consequently resulted in better monetary returns for thousands of farmers and a boost to the local oil industry.

Such sector friendly policies, in addition to other programmes like irrigation, agricultural mechanization, post-harvest management, strengthening cooperatives, crop intensification, value addition and financing, will no doubt boost the sector that is vital to the national economy.

Original Article Here

Too early to predict impact of delayed monsoon on sowing: Sharad Pawar

NEW DELHI: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said that there has been a delay in monsoon rains, but it is too early to predict impact on kharif sowing.

"Yes, monsoon has been delayed. But it would be too early to say its impact on sowing," Pawar told PTI while replying to a question whether sowing of kharif crops has been hit due to delay in monsoon.

He noted that monsoon was delayed in June in 2008, but rains picked up in July-August. "It happened in 2008. June had gone dry but July and August received substantial rains".

Asked whether delay in monsoon is a cause of worry, Pawar said: "I will be able to say in the last week of this month".

The minister said that farmers have started preparing fields for paddy sowing in some parts of the country.

Besides paddy, other major kharif crops are pulses, oilseeds and cotton.

South-west monsoon, the lifeline of Indian agriculture, had reached Kerala on June 5, four days later than the normal date of June 1. It further advanced mainly along the west coast and over north eastern states on June 6. The country received 32 per cent less rainfall during the first week of June.

Monsoon rains are crucial for agriculture as only 40 per cent of the cultivable area is under irrigation. The farm sector contributes about only 15 per cent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but it employs about 60 per cent of India's population.

On the back of good monsoon in 2010 and 2011, the country harvested a record foodgrains production of 245 million tonnes and 252.56 million tonnes, respectively.

Out of 36 meteorological subdivisions, the rainfall has been excess over 4, normal over 5, deficient over 6, scanty over 20 and no rain over 1 subdivisions. North eastern states have received excess rainfall during the period, as per the data compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

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Argentine farmers conflict expands; all trading suspended for a week

“Costs, particularly taxes, have increased
non-stop for farmers”, claims Eduardo Buzzi

Argentine farmers’ organizations under the umbrella grouping Liaison Board announced on Tuesday a national strike cancelling all trade in grains, oilseeds and livestock to protest ‘national government policies’ against the land reform and tax hike in Buenos Aires province, among other issues.

The halt in sales will begin at midnight on Tuesday and end a week later on midnight June 12th. The announcement was made by the Argentine Rural Society (SRA), Coninagro, the Agrarian Federation of Argentina (FAA) and the Argentine Rural Confederations, (CRA) which brings together large landholders to small farmers under the Liaison Board umbrella and was particularly successful in their confrontation with the Kirchner administrations over export taxes in 2008.

“Costs, particularly taxes, have increased non-stop for farmers and thus our incomes have been diminished,” FAA head Eduardo Buzzi explained in a press conference. “Something is going very wrong in Argentina's farms, which is why we are sending this wake-up call”, adding ”We are in bad shape and getting worse”.

Ruben Ferrero from CRA said “we don’t want confrontations, we don’t want to confront the community, we want to teach and reach out to show the people what is really happening: a year ago dairy farmers were paid 1.60 Pesos a litre of milk, now that is down to 1.50”

He insisted the purpose of the strike was to give evidence of the critical situation of the camp overall, underlining that “the two ends of the food chain (farmers and consumers) are suffering the most”.

“We are overwhelmed by commercial and competition difficulties” and the refusal form the national Executive to receive the farmers “has been one of the factors triggering this strike situation”.

The difficulties identified include trading restrictions; limits to exports; destruction of markets and the lack of profitability in important sectors such as dairy farming, plus the non consulted decision by the province of Buenos Ares, Argentina’s richest, to increase soil values and thus significant hikes in land taxes, which is also extensive for the federal level. The increase in transport costs in such a vast country is also a motive of protest particularly for the north and south of Argentina.

The national strike is an extension of the ban on commercial activities for farm produce in the province of Buenos Aires, following the approval by the local parliament of the new land values and taxes.

In the first day of non-trading, recorded shipments of livestock were minimum and pickets resurfaced in several of Argentina’s main highways in farming territory.

Buenos Aires province governor Daniel Scioli told his province farmers he is prepared to review legislation approved but demands that farmers cease their protests.

Original Article Here