Oil Palm Cultivation: A Strategic Opportunity for Pakistan

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, contributing nearly 24% to the national GDP and providing livelihoods for about half of the country’s population. Beyond meeting domestic needs, agriculture plays a vital role in generating foreign exchange, with major export commodities such as rice, sesame, fruits, and meat earning nearly USD 8 billion in the 2024 fiscal year (TADA, 2024; Rauf, 2025). Despite these strengths, Pakistan continues to face a widening gap between agricultural production and consumption. This is most visible in the edible oil sector, where domestic production satisfies only a fraction of the national requirement. The shortfall forces Pakistan to import large quantities of vegetable oils, creating a heavy financial burden and exposing national food security to global market volatility.

Pakistan comprises about 22 million hectares of cultivable land, of which approximately 18 million hectares are irrigated, primarily across Punjab and Sindh (Rauf, 2025). These irrigated plains are the backbone of major cash crops such as cotton, sugarcane, mango, rice, and citrus. Meanwhile, the rain-fed regions produce wheat, fodder crops, olives, and peanuts. However, rising climate variability has begun to adversely affect agricultural productivity. Increasing frequencies of drought, salinity, soil erosion, and waterlogging are undermining the integrity of Pakistan’s agricultural land, reducing yields and increasing costs.

Pakistan’s Edible Oil Crisis

Oils and fats are essential components of the human diet, supplying energy, essential fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins (D and K), and health-promoting compounds such as sterols and tocopherols (Meijaard et al., 2024). Yet edible oil remains one of Pakistan’s largest import commodities. Palm oil alone accounts for nearly 31% of total agricultural imports, while soybean oil represents an additional 11%. Other major imports include lentils (10%) and tea (8%). Together, edible oils, mainly palm and soybean, comprise nearly 42% of Pakistan’s agricultural import bill, underscoring their enormous economic significance.

Pakistan is among the world’s largest importers of palm oil, most of which arrives from Indonesia and Malaysia. In 2024, Pakistan spent roughly USD 4.08 billion on palm and vegetable oil imports (Agriculture Statistics of Pakistan, 2024; Rauf, 2025). Moreover, the country imported 860,260 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia in 2024, an increase of 14.2% from the previous year. Projections suggest that Pakistan may need to import nearly four million tonnes of palm oil in 2025, costing approximately USD 3.5 billion (Ali, 2021; Rauf, 2025). As the food processing sector expands at an estimated 7.5% annual growth rate, the demand for refined palm oil, specialty fats, and oleo-chemicals is expected to increase sharply.

Domestic edible oil production accounts for only about 15% of total demand, largely deriving from cottonseed, canola, and sunflower. Historically, cottonseed has been a major source of edible oil (Yadav & Chattopadhyay, 2024; Rauf, 2025). However, the cotton sector has suffered significant decline due to climatic stresses in southern Punjab and shifting cropping patterns. Farmers replacing cotton with sugarcane and maize have contributed to a drastic reduction in cottonseed availability, from 3.15 million metric tons (MMT) in 2018 to just 1.57 MMT in 2022 (FAOSTAT, 2022; Rauf, 2025). Growing population levels and increased consumption from the restaurant and deep-frying industries further widen the edible oil deficit, putting pressure on national food security.

Oil Palm: A Promising Opportunity

To bridge the edible oil deficit, the cultivation of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis L.) has emerged as a viable long-term strategy. Oil palm is recognized globally as one of the most productive and reliable oil-yielding crops. With a productive lifespan extending up to 25 years and a short juvenile phase of 2–3 years, it offers rapid returns and consistent yields (Murphy et al., 2021). Multiple research reports and policy analyses recommend expanding oil palm cultivation in Pakistan to reduce dependence on imports (Hussain et al., 2023).

One of the most compelling advantages of oil palm is its exceptionally high oil yield. While Brassica crops produce around 0.5–0.6 tons of oil per hectare, oil palm can yield 3.5–5 tons—up to ten times more (Mathur et al., 2023; Rauf, 2025). In addition, intercropping with bananas, papaya, or vegetables during the early growth years can provide farmers with supplementary income (Rauf, 2025).

Climate and Environmental Constraints

Despite its potential, oil palm cultivation is highly specific to areas meeting particular photo-thermal requirements. Native to West Africa, oil palm thrives in humid tropical climates with temperatures between 25–34°C, rainfall between 1600–2500 mm annually, and sunlight exceeding 1800 hours per year. It grows optimally near the equator between 10° north and south latitude (Punnuri & Singh, 2013).

Globally, the crop is concentrated in Latin America, Central America, and Southeast Asia, regions with abundant tropical rainforests that also face ecological concerns (Yadav & Chattopadhyay, 2025). Rapid expansion in these areas is environmentally contentious due to forest degradation.

In Pakistan, coastal regions such as Badin, Thatta, Hub, Pasni, and Gwadar show potential for oil palm cultivation, but significant challenges remain. Annual rainfall in these areas is only 151–203 mm, humidity levels range between 25–34%, and temperatures can exceed 50°C (Rauf, 2025). These harsh conditions necessitate advanced irrigation systems such as rain guns and drip irrigation as well as breeding programs focused on heat- and drought-tolerant genotypes (Corley, 2018). Studies indicate strong genotype × environment interactions, showing that varieties performing well under optimal conditions often fail under heat and drought stress.

Extreme temperatures above 45°C may cause gametophytic sterility, reduced fruit formation, and lower oil percentages (Murphy et al., 2021). Thus, rigorous screening of germplasm, followed by selecting drought- and heat-tolerant progenies, will be critical to improving the crop’s viability (Murphy et al., 2021).

Performance of Oil Palm in Pakistan’s Coastal Belt

Experimental plantations along Sindh’s coastal belt, supported by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, demonstrate promising potential. Mesocarp oil content recorded in Pakistan ranged from 62–68%, exceeding global averages. Kernel oil content varied from 26–28%, with lauric acid comprising approximately 45% of kernel oil (Saleem & Sultana, 2010). These results indicate favorable biochemical characteristics for commercial production.

Growth performance trials of varieties such as the 3-way Cross and Yangambi PB14 at the Dalda Agriculture Research Station (DARS), Mirpur Sakro, showed encouraging outcomes. Under varying fertilization treatments, Yangambi PB14 performed best, achieving a seedling height of 94 cm and a trunk girth of 21 cm within seven months (Memon et al., 2023).

Key Challenges and the Path Forward

A major limitation to oil palm expansion in Pakistan is the restricted adaptability of imported germplasm. Most global oil palm varieties are tailored to humid tropics and may not perform well in arid, saline, or extreme temperature environments (Rauf, 2025). Introducing new genetic resources from diverse global collections and evaluating them across Pakistan’s agro-ecological zones will be essential.

Drought and heat tolerance remain priorities, as oil palm is highly sensitive to water scarcity (Murugesan et al., 2017). Developing or introducing heat-tolerant and drought-resistant varieties through breeding and biotechnology is crucial (Li et al., 2019; Wei et al., 2021). Additionally, coastal salinity poses significant risk, necessitating the identification or development of salt-tolerant cultivars (Vieira et al., 2020).

Beyond agro-climatic factors, market readiness and industrial infrastructure will determine the long-term success of oil palm cultivation. Establishing local fruit-crushing facilities and refining industries is essential to avoid high transportation costs and post-harvest losses. Farmers must receive subsidized seedlings, financial support, and opportunities for intercropping to reduce investment risks. A reliable supply of disease-free, high-performing planting material is also necessary to guarantee successful establishment.

Sustainable agricultural practices such as soil fertility management, reduced pesticide use, and protection of fragile ecosystems like coastal mangroves must guide expansion. Efficient irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, and modern water management strategies will be pivotal for long-term viability.

Conclusion

Oil palm cultivation presents a strategic and long-term opportunity for Pakistan to reduce its heavy dependence on imported edible oils and strengthen national food security. Pakistan’s coastal regions, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, demonstrate promising biochemical and agronomic potential for oil palm production, as shown by early trials supported by international research institutions. Yet the crop’s success will rely on a coordinated, science-driven, and market-ready approach. Addressing challenges such as extreme heat, drought, salinity, and the limited adaptability of imported germplasm requires sustained investment in breeding programs, varietal evaluation, and biotechnology to develop heat- and drought-tolerant cultivars suited to local environments.

Equally critical is the establishment of supportive infrastructure, including nurseries, crushing mills, refineries, and efficient supply chains to ensure that growers have access to high-quality planting material and profitable market linkages. Farmers must be encouraged through subsidized seedlings, crop insurance, and intercropping options that generate income during the juvenile phase of oil palm. Public-private partnerships can accelerate research, technology transfer, and commercialization, enabling the edible oil sector to evolve into a competitive domestic industry. With strategic planning, scientific rigor, and sustainable management practices, oil palm cultivation has the potential to become a transformative agricultural innovation for Pakistan’s coastal economy and a vital contributor to national self-reliance in edible oil production.

References: Agriculture Statistics of Pakistan; Ali; Corley; FAOSTAT; Hussain et al; Li et al; Mathur et al; Meijaard et al; Memon et al; Murphy et al; Murugesan et al; Punnuri & Singh; Rauf; Saleem & Sultana; TADA; Vieira et al; Wei et al; Yadav & Chattopadhyay.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writers are affiliated with the Drainage and Reclamation Institute of Pakistan (DRIP), Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and can be reached at nazargul43@gmail.com

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