India is the fourth largest producer of oilseeds in the world and its production has increased more than five fold since 1950. However, it is still importing vegetable oils to meet the growing demands due to increase in per capita income and increase in standard of living Production and consumption of fats and oils derivatives in non-food use have increased within the last ten years and continue to strengthen as consumers incline towards more natural and environment friendly products and ingredients. Minor oilseeds of tree origin are generally non-edible and can find applications such as in relating to cosmetics, medicine, soap manufacturing, flavoring and perfume industries especially in case of developing countries. Hence to meet the growing demand, emphasis should be given on productivity improvement of oilseeds, besides exploitation of un-tapped potential of the non-conventional and tree-borne oilseeds.
India has an estimated 55.76 million hectares of wastelands and degraded forest and other lands which can be used productively by growing plantations of non-edible oilseeds. This will also help benefiting the large rural population in India by providing employment. Indian arid zone has some of the high oil bearing but lesser known tree species viz. Salvadora oleoides, S. persica, Pongamia pinnata, Balanites aegyptiaca , Citrullus colocynthis and Moringa oleifera etc. They can play an important role in helping the country attain self sufficiency in fats and oils. This paper is an effort to explore the potential of these lesser known oilseed tree species from Indian arid zone in development of wastelands.
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2022: 6.012
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