Awareness Drive for Oil Palm Farmers

Eluru:  3F Oil Palm Agrotech Pvt Ltd, a leading player in the market has embarked on educating oil palm farmers on the new and emerging techniques to grow the crop efficiently and to identify the right time to harvest the yield.

The company has been holding a month-long farmers awareness drive across six mandals of West Godavari district-- Nalajerla, Tadepalligudem, Chagallu, Nidadavolu, Deverapally and Bhimadole.  

Venkateshwar Naidu, an oil palm farmer of Kadiyadda in Tadepalligudem said timing was very important to gain maximum yield. It was important to know the exact time to harvest.

“During the camp, we were told about the dos and don’ts in oil palm cultivation and the new techniques to identify the right stage of our crop,” he added.

An oil palm farming expert and company representative Srinivasa Rao Killari, said that oil palm cultivation was quite lucrative for farmers who practice the right techniques.

“It is important that farmers in this sector know the right time to harvest the yield and transfer the same to the collection centres immediately. 

We are striving to educate farmers on the best practices so as to ensure maximum returns.

The government has increased incentive from Rs 23,000 per hectare to Rs 30,000 from this financial year. 

The farmers also get a subsidy of Rs 10,000 per hectare and free seedling distribution up to 15 hectares. 

The incentives include Rs 30,000 per hectare for four years and Rs 7,000 per hectare to farmers for growing vegetables as an inter-crop in their oil palm plantations. 

Besides, a sum of Rs 15,000 is also given for setting up a compost yard for producing organic manure and Rs 50,000 financial assistance to SC and ST farmers for sinking bore wells and Rs 10,000 for purchasing agriculture pump sets,” he added.