Pakistan’s Edible Oilseeds Industry

Report Preface: The Office of International Cooperation and Development (OICD) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under an agreement with the Pakistan Mission of the U.S. Agency for International Develop­ment, has completed a study of the total oilseeds sector of Pakistan for the Government of Pakistan's Oilseeds Development Board. The study has involved seven technical teams and a total of 24 individual consultants. These technical teams addressed the following topics: Research; Production; Alternative Crops; Domestic Distribution; Markets and Trade; Oilseed Storage, Processing, and Poultry and-Livestock Production and Marketing; and Policy and Organization. This summary report is a synthesis of 30 separate reports written by the technical teams. It was prepared by the oilseeds consolidation team after assessing the findings and recommendations of the technical teams and reviewing the drastic changes in the world edible oils market since the technical reports were completed. It presents an action plan that is realistic and usable by decision makers in the Government and the private sector. The report deals specifically with oilseed pricing policy and organization, oilseed markets, edible oil imports, oilseed processing, oilseed production and research and the utilization of oilseed meal for poultry and livestock. The summary is divided into six parts. The first section offers a brief overview of the consolidation team's major conclusions and recommendations. Section II. reviews the current edible oils situation. Section III. assesses the availability of resources for edible oils production. Section IV. offers a comprehensive edible oils strategy, including a new marketing policy. Section V. analyzes the implications of one of the proposed new policy's major points, increased vegetable ghee prices. Finally, Section VI. describes long-term programs that the GOP should consider in conjunction with the policy recommendations.