Why in the News?

A palm specie ‘Phoenix roxburghii’ first described in the 17th-century botanical treatise Hortus Malabaricus has been recently confirmed.

About Phoenix roxburghii:

Origin: Named after William Roxburgh, regarded as the father of Indian Botany.
Distribution: Found along India’s eastern coast, Bangladesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Pakistan.
Height: Grows up to 12–16 metres, taller than Phoenix sylvestris.
Distinct Features:
- Solitary trunk
- Larger leaves and leaflets
- Musty-scented staminate flowers
- Large, obovoid orange-yellow fruits

National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) (2021): Centrally sponsored, aims to boost domestic crude palm oil (CPO) production and reduce import dependence.

Targets:
- Expand area to 10 lakh ha by 2025–26.
- Raise production from 0.27 lakh tonnes (2019–20) to 11.2 lakh tonnes (2025–26), further to 28 lakh tonnes (2029–30).
Support Mechanisms: Viability Price (VP), Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), planting subsidy (₹29,000/ha), and special aid for NE & Andaman regions.
Cultivation States: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala (98% of output); others include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and NE states.
Potential vs Current: 28 lakh ha potential; only 3.7 lakh ha cultivated.
Imports: India is the world’s largest palm oil importer (9.2 million tonnes in 2023–24). Palm oil forms 60% of edible oil imports, sourced mainly from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Unique Advantage: Palm oil yields are 5× higher than traditional oilseeds.

[UPSC 2021] With reference to ‘palm oil,’ consider the following statements:

1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.

2. Palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.

3. Palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only* (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, and 3