The BJP led Tripura Government has set a
goal of bringing 7,000 hectares of land under palm oil cultivation by 2026-27
financial year, stated a senior minister.
Currently, palm oil plants are
cultivated in 56.35 hectares of land in the Northeastern State.
“To expand palm oil cultivation in the State,
digital mapping was done in 2020 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) and the Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research. In the process, 1,46,364
hectares of land were identified in the State.
“Of that, 7000 hectares of land would be
brought under palm oil cultivation by 2026-27,” said Agriculture Minister Ratan
Lal Nath.
To tap the potential, the Agriculture
department has signed an agreement with Godrej Agrovet Ltd and Patanjali Food
Private Ltd under the National Mission on Edible Oil, he said.
Nath said Godrej Agrovet Ltd has built a
nursery at Nalkata in Unakoti district.
“Godrej Agrovet has also brought palm
plants from Andhra Pradesh and planted them on 52.01 hectares of land. The
Patanjali Food Pvt Ltd has also planted palm plants in 56.35 hectares,” he
said.
Claiming that Tripura has good potential
in palm oil cultivation, the minister said the State has already sent 18
officers to Andhra Pradesh to impart training on palm oil cultivation.
“The department has already imparted
training to 2123 farmers. Of them, 1076 have expressed interest in raising palm
oil plants for better return,” he added.
The oil seed is found from a palm tree
four years after plantation and farmers get it for 30 years.
“Since palm oil cultivation has
potential in the hilly State, the Agriculture department will leave no stone
unturned to explore the possibility. If the plan is successful, the farmers
will be benefited in future,” he said.
The major oil palm growing States
include Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, Goa, Tripura,
Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Countries like Indonesia, Malaysia,
Nigeria, Cambodia and Thailand produce 90 per cent of palm oil in the world,
Nath added.
PTI
