[Extension of time] Smallholder Diagnostic Study – India

Capturing over 20% of global supply (imports), India has become the largest user of palm oil in the world. The import of palm oil takes a heavy toll on the Indian economy, but also increases the spending of the taxpayer’s contribution to a great extent. To counter this economic bane, and also to address the issue of non-employment pertaining to the vast Indian population, the Indian government launched the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (“NMEO-OP”) on 18 August 2021. Through this scheme, the government aims to increase the area under cultivation from about 3.54 lakh hectares in 2019-20 to 10 lakh hectares by year 2025-26 and 16.7 Lakh hectares by 2029-30.

While the NMEO-OP scheme has incorporated several unique features as part of the implementation, such as incentives for drip irrigation, intercropping, pricing, etc., there is very little data available on the benefits that these features offer when successfully implemented. There is a need to document the current good practices adopted by the oil palm smallholders in India and identify potential environmental and social impact areas of this expansion.

This assignment aims to increase RSPO’s understanding of the existing oil palm production systems and the characteristics of smallholders involved in, or planning to plant, oil palm in two (2) key states implementing the NMEO-OP. The study also aims to better understand the current sustainability impacts and potential sustainability risks that might be encountered with the expansion.

Submission Timeline

Your submission should adhere to the below dates:

Click here to download the Terms of Reference (ToR).