ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Pakistan Oil Development Board (PODB) has initiated a plan to increase edible oil production by promoting cultivation of canola to meet domestic requirement of 1.9 million tons every year.

About 0.5 million tons is produced by the local growers while the remaining 1.2 million tons is imported to bridge the gap between the produce and consumption.

According to official sources, PODB has developed new varieties of canola with indigenous resources. These varieties include synthetic as well as hybrid varieties. Local canola varieties have performed better than the imported varieties cultivated at various locations in the country under difference agro-ecological conditions and these local varieties are fully acclimatized to local environment.

Local canola seed production has resulted in self-sufficiency in canola seed requirements and now there is no need to import canola seed by public or private sectors. Local canola seed production has reduced the cost of the seed providing a relief to the growers.

Local seed of synthetic types costs Rs50 as compared to the international price of Rs180 to 250 per kg. Local hybrid seed of canola costs Rs150 per kg.

There is a vast potential to increase production of canola oil and main thrust is being laid for replacement of sarson acreage by canola cultivation. Sarson crop is being cultivated on about 700,000 acres annually replacement of which will enhance canola acreage to about 1.0 million acres thus enhancing the canola production to 200,000 tons valued at Rs7.5 billion per annum.

Canola crop can be grown throughout the country and it requires minimum three irrigations at the time of its sowing, flowering and seed formation.

In Pakistan, canola cultivation started in 1985-86 on experimental basis with imported varieties. Commercial cultivation of canola started in Pakistan in 1995 when it was planted on 100,000 acres compared to 8,000 acres of 1994. Now canola has become a popular oilseed crop in Pakistan.—APP