Food security for the Muslim world

Dec 2006

This document illustrates the oils and fats scenario in the Muslim world total production in 2006 was 44.09 million tonnes, of which the bulk was in Malaysia (18.14 million tonnes) and Indonesia (18.37 million tonnes). Several of the countries produced more than 1 million tonnes of oils and fats, i.e. Pakistan (1.67 million tonnes), Nigeria (1.42 million tonnes) and Turkey (1.23 million tonnes). Iran, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon, Egypt, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan respectively produced between 150,000 and 300,000 tonnes.
In comparing total production (44.09 million tonnes) and disappearance (26.16 million tonnes) of oils and fats, it would appear that Muslim countries are self-sufficient. However, only Malaysia and Indonesia are surplus producers. The other countries are certainly deficient in oils and fats. The general chronic shortage of oils and fats can be attributed to the need to allocate available arable land for production of staple food crops such as cereals. Muslim countries may endeavour to intensify indigenous oilseeds cultivation in order to produce sufficient vegetable oils, but this would require a review of agricultural programmes to fully optimise land resources, technical capabilities and financial means to put reforms in place.
Even this may not be a viable option for countries with limited arable land, where the priority is for food crops. Technological advances in the agricultural sector and use of modern tools of biotechnology that produce hardier and higher yielding crops may help overcome some of the inherent problems faced in traditional agricultural practices.

By: Y. Basiron, B. Nagendran, N. Sudin (Malaysian Palm Oil Council)

 
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