If India gives land, we will work together to produce palm oil here: Malaysian Minister
- India and Malaysia have decided to increase bilateral cooperation in the field of edible oil, especially the cultivation of oil palm, and the production and trade of palm oil.
Busting ‘propaganda’
- Malaysia will provide the services of our research and development, seed supply and partnership management experience to India, to work together to fight the propaganda against palm oil. This edible oil is very versatile.
- He said the future of palm oil is “very good” as it is being used as edible oil and biofuel. “Malaysia contributes three million tonnes of palm oil out of the 9.7 million tonnes India imports every year. India is our biggest partner. If India offers land, we will work together to produce palm oil in India.
- Asked about India’s efforts to cut down imports, he said: “I don’t see any decrease in the import of palm oil as there is no replacement for palm oil.”
- On Malaysia’s earlier plans to ban the export of palm oil to the European Union, he said Malaysia had made sure that the palm oil produced in the country met all sustainability standards. He said no new land is used to cultivate oil palm, and deforestation is also stopped.
- Asked about the harassment faced by Indian migrant workers in Malaysian farms and the controversies about bondage, he said such issues will be a “thing of the past” soon.
- “Under our new regulation, one of the requirements is to ensure sustainability, and the farms will have to manage workers as per International Labour Organisation guidelines.
- If there is a labor issue, they will not be allowed to export palm oil. We will make sure that we will stop bondage. It will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Prelims Takeaway:
- Palm Oil
- National Mission on Edible Oil