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Itanagar, 6 October (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General KT Pranic (Retired) said on Monday that oil cultivation has already expanded 4,690 hectares in the state, which benefits about 2,000 farmers under the ‘per drop’ scheme.
Looking further, the Governor said that the state has set an ambitious target of bringing 35,723 hectares under oil palm cultivation by 2025-26. Lieutenant General Pernic (Rit.) On Monday, he visited 4-hectare oil palm farm of Progressive Farmer Miti Megu Parm in Bosey Didam village in Pasighat district. The visit of the Governor was aligned with the efforts of the state government to promote oil palm cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh.
He said that the establishment of the country’s first raw palm oil mill in Roeing and the new factories coming to the Industrial Development Center, Niglok, are promoting the trust of the farmer and ensuring adequate processing capacity for the future, he said.
The governor stressed that oil palm cultivation is not just an agricultural activity, but a vision for economic development, farmers empowerment and national self -reliance or Aatma Neerbhar. He said that India, despite being one of the largest consumers of edible oil, depends a lot on imports.
Promoting oil palm, therefore, is a strategic step by reducing import dependence, strengthening the rural economy and ensuring price stability for consumers.
Highlighting the capacity of Arunachal Pradesh, the Governor said that the fertile soil, favorable climate and abundant rainfall of the state make it ideal for oil palm gardens. For farmers, it provides better returns than a stable income, long-term security and most other oilseeds, while also produces opportunities for agricultural-based industries.
He appreciated the state government for prioritizing oil palm cultivation, and the policy aims not only to enhance the livelihood of farmers and generate employment, but also supports the national goal of self -reliance. In doing so, it is attracting investment, improving the rural infrastructure, and building a strong market linkage, he said.
Sharing the progress, the governor reported that Arunachal Pradesh produced more than 5.19 lakh metric tonnes of food grains, about 15,000 metric tons of pulses and over 39,000 metric tonnes of oilseeds last year. Fifteen soil testing laboratories have been installed, and more than 1.3 lakh soil health cards have been issued.
Cultivator Parm shared that the farm was established in 2017 and harvesting was started in 2021. He said that palm oil is harvested 3 to 4 times a month, which gives a yield of 2 to 3 tonnes per crop and said that the recent installation of palm oil factory in Nigloka has steadily increased the demand for palm oil, which provides a strong market for local farmers.
Deputy Commissioner, East Siang District, Sonalika Jeevani emphasized that, in view of the increasing demand, oil palm farming is proving to be highly remuneration and has a significant potential to promote the local economy, which provides permanent income opportunities for farmers in the area.
During his visit, the Governor interacted with Miti Megu Parm, other local farmers and departmental officials, attained insight for the first time in the operation of the farm.
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