Status of various sources of edible oil and prospects of oil palm cultivation in Pakistan

Oilseeds are essential for food nutrition, cooking, and industrial uses like lubricants, paint, and soap. Pakistan requires about 4 million metric tons of edible oil annually, but only 0.5 million tons are produced indigenously. Cotton, rapeseed, mustard, and sunflower contribute to the oil supply, but additional sources like olive and rice bran could provide a further 0.25 million tons. Local crops have not met the food industry’s needs, and the demand grows by 7% annually. Sesame has emerged as a new income source, yet self-sufficiency remains distant due to rising consumption outpacing production. The country is in high need of the olive and rice bran oil industry. Oil palm cultivation has been suggested for Pakistan’s coastal regions, where up to 0.5 million hectares could be used. However, low precipitation, humidity, and heat stress during peak months hinder its growth. Early attempts to establish oil palm plantations showed promise, but the lack of an oil extraction industry led to failure. With rising palm oil demand, mostly imported from Indonesia and Malaysia, reviving domestic palm oil production is crucial. Palm oil environmental sensitivity limits its adaptation to local conditions. There is a need for international collaboration to introduce oil palm germplasm from various regions of the world, evaluate the germplasm that may better acclimate to the local conditions, and mass multiplication of the adapted genotypes for cultivation in the potential areas of Pakistan. Genetic improvement through traditional breeding methods supported by molecular tools could improve resilience and optimize oil production, making large-scale palm cultivation viable in Pakistan.