Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs) – Potential & Exploitation in the Indian context

The country has enormous potential of oilseeds of tree origin like  Cheura (Diploknema butyracea), Jatropha (Jatropha curcas), Jojoba (Simmondsia chinesis) , Karanja (Pongamia pinnata), Kokum (Garcinia indica), Mahua (Madhuca indica), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Simarouba (Simarouba glauca), Tung (Aleurites species) , Wild apricot (Prunus armeniaca) etc. which can be grown and established in the wasteland and varied agro-climatic conditions.  These have domestic and industrial utility like agriculture, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, diesel and substitute, cocoa-butter substitute etc.  Most of these TBOs are scattered in forest and non-forest areas and hardly 20% of the existing potential is being crushed and utilized that too of poor quality and the rest potential is going waste.

 Objectives (X Plan programmes)

The Board has been entrusted with the responsibility for integrated development of tree borne oilseeds (TBOs) with focus on generation of rural employment through exploitation of existing potential and augmenting the future potential.  The brief objectives of the scheme for the implementation during X Plan are as below:-

• Improve the quality of seeds of TBOs collected by unemployed women and tribal by augmenting handling through creation of appropriate infrastructure.

• Promote the plantation of potential TBOs in wasteland through augmentation of superior planting material, production technologies and handling system.

• Develop and refine the technologies for improved productivity, quality, value addition etc. by assisting capable institutions to take such programmes.

• Create awareness through training, seminar, workshop, publication & publicity etc. among farmers and primary processing industries for improved agronomic practices and new technologies.

• Generate income and employment opportunities for small and marginal farmers and other weaker sections of society, particularly those living below poverty line and women folk etc.

Activities of the Board during X Plan period

1. Exploitation of existing potential

• Establishment of model seed/produce procurement centres.

• Installation of pre-processing and processing equipments like cleaner, grader, decorticator, dehuller, depulper, drier, oil expeller etc.

• Awareness programme through trainers/farmers training and publicity

2. Augmentation of potential

• Raising of quality nursery

• Plantation of seedlings in degraded and wastelands

• Maintenance of plants for 2 years after plantation

3. Need based research programmes

• Tree improvement, standardization of propagation and agro-techniques, disease and insect-pest management etc.

• Value addition in oil and deoiled meal.

•  Design & development of pre-processing and processing facilities for extraction of quality oil from TBOs.

4.  Publication & publicity

 

5.  Establishment of TBO garden & parks

 

6.  National seminar / workshop

 

 

Manner of implementation of the programme

 

 Achievement - X Plan