Gadwal: Agriculture Minister Niranjan Reddy encourages farmers to grow palm oil trees

Gadwal: Agriculture Minister Sinigreddy Niranjan Reddy launched 6th phase of Haritha Haram drive in Batladinne village of Itikyala mandal on Thursday.

While launching the programme, the Minister advocated the farmers to take up palm oil plantations in a big way as it is not only going to cleanse the environment with harmful gases but at the same time it also benefit the farmers of good economical returns.

He was happy as the farmers of Gadwal district have decided to go for palm oil plantation over an extent of 60 acres. He advised the other farmers to take up palm oil plantations as it will bring them good profits after four years when it starts yielding good harvest.

'Though the Central government has agreed to give subsidy for growing palm oil plants over 7.34 lakh acres in the State, but there are less palm oil plants in the nurseries and can cover only 11,000 acres across the State.

In view of this, we have decided to grow more palm oil plants in the nurseries and by next year the State government has set a target of plantation of palm oil plants in several lakh acres.'

Minister Niranjan Reddy advocated more and more famers should take up palm oil plantation in the coming days, which are more beneficial for them.

He said a palm oil plantation over two acres can consume 22,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and release 22 tonnes of oxygen. In this way, these plants are very good for environment.