Agartala: July 21. Tripura has covered almost 4,000 hectares of land under oil palm cultivation out of the 7,000 hectares targeted by 2025–26 Financial Years.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath informed this today after inaugurating the Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive at Taltala.
The Minister said that our country is not self-sufficient in edible oil, although it is self-sufficient in fish, rice, etc.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wants the country to be self-sufficient in edible oil, or else a huge amount of money goes out to foreign countries. That’s why the government has stressed cultivation of oil palm in South and North East India, as the lands are suitable for palm oil. The rate of palm oil will never decrease it will only increase. The market is very good, and farmers don’t need to worry about selling their products”, said the Minister.
The Minister said that in rubber plantations, farmers can’t cultivate anything in between the rubber trees. But in palm oil cultivation, farmers can grow many other crops in between, and the government will also help. From clearing bushes to providing saplings all will be done by the government.
“Our target by 2025–26 is to cover 7,000 hectares in Tripura, and so far, we have already covered around 4,000 hectares,” said Minister.
He further informed that palm oil is used to make two types of oil palm oil, which is used for cooking, and palm kernel oil, which is used in industry. Palm oil is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and bio-lubricants.
He said that potential areas for oil palm cultivation in Tripura have been identified and a new area expansion program has been launched by the Government of India. Initially, in 2012, the DAC Committee of the Government of India identified 7,000 hectares in Tripura for oil palm cultivation. Later, in 2020, the ICAR-IIOPR Re-evaluation Committee identified 1,46,364 hectares of potential areas for oil palm expansion in the state through digital mapping.
“Horticulture and Soil Conservation Rights, under the National Mission on Edible Oils Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), have been implemented with two processors as associate partners Godrej Agrovet Ltd. on 1st August 2022, and Patanjali Foods Pvt. Ltd. on 10th August 2022, with MoUs signed. Unakoti, North, and Dhalai districts have been allotted to Godrej Agrovet Ltd., while five districts Khowai, West, Sepahijala, Gomati, and South have been allotted to Patanjali Foods Ltd.,” said the Agriculture Minister.
The Minister informed that the foundation stone for a palm oil processing unit was laid by Godrej Agrovet Ltd. at Nalkata in Dhalai district on August 10, 2024. Godrej Agrovet Ltd. will also set up an international-standard Oil Palm Research and Solutions Centre at this location in collaboration with SD Guthrie International Company of Malaysia.
Similarly, Patanjali Foods Ltd. is planning to establish a palm oil processing unit at Gurupada Bagan, near Khumulwng Park.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, has set a target of bringing 7,000 hectares of land under this crop in our state by the financial year 2025–26. The Horticulture and Land Conservation Rights of the State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department are committed to achieving this target,” he said.
