Guwahati: To increase the oil palm cultivation in the region, the Assam government will incentivise farmers across the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Launching he Mega Oil Palm Plantation drive in Tinsukia on Tuesday said the primary objective of this drive is to expand oil palm cultivation to cover 3.75 lakh hectares, thus enhancing edible oil production and advancing India's self-sufficiency in this sector.
The mission is set to amplify the oil palm production area to 10 lakh hectares, resulting in a surge of 11.20 lakh tonnes of Crude Palm Oil by 2025-26, Mr Sarma said.
Numerous North-Eastern Region (NER) states, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, and Nagaland, in collaboration with major oil palm processing corporations such as Patanjali Food Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet, 3F, and KE Cultivation, have joined hands to promote this initiative.
Commencing on July 27, 2023, and continuing through August 12, 2023, the drive is anticipated to encompass over 750 hectares across 19 districts.
Addressing the gathering at the launch, Chief Minister Sarma emphasized the imperativeness of augmenting oil production in Assam to meet the state's burgeoning demand.
Currently, Assam's oil output ranges from 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes, which falls short of the state's requirements. To bridge this gap, the government strategizes to initiate plantations in 18 districts across the state.
Private enterprises, including Patanjali Foods Ltd., Godrej Agrovet, 3F, and KE Cultivation, play a pivotal role in this progressive undertaking. Their involvement encompasses not just cultivation but also the procurement of superior palm oil seeds from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. To galvanize farmer participation in oil palm cultivation, the government is providing attractive incentives, Chief Minister Sarma elaborated.
Notably, Patanjali Foods Ltd’s . promoter Baba Ramdev was also present in the event and said that the company will establish 16 nurseries by the forthcoming year, thereby ensuring a steady supply of high-quality seedlings to farmers.
Moreover, they are poised to inaugurate an Oil Palm processing facility in Dhing, Nagaon, he added.
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