Government giving a big boost to oil palm farming : Minister Niranjan Reddy

Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister Niranjan Reddy on Thursday said that, as a part of encouraging the oil palm farming, the government has taken up a pilot project in 18,100 hectors of land in the districts of Adilabad, Mahabubnagar and Mahabubabad.

Replying to a question raised by TRS member B Suman, during the Question Hour in the Assembly on Thursday, Niranjan Reddy said that government was encouraging oil palm farming given its potential of big returns.

He informed that the Central government had given a report that oil palm cultivation can be done in the districts of Adilabad, Mahabubnagar and Mahabubabad. There is a scope of taking up oil palm cultivation in about 7 to 8 lakh acres.

Talking about benefits, the minister said that right from field to factory, the responsibility would be of the factory and this farming is regulated by an act. The crop comes up in fourth year and farmers can get a subsidy of Rs 20,800 per acre.

He added, the country needs 21 million metric tonnes of oil but presently the production was only seven million metric tonnes and the government was spending Rs 40,000 crore for importing the palm oil.

He said that once the production starts from the 18,100 hectors land there is a possibility of getting 16,000 tonnes of oil palm crop. This will help in avoiding dependence on the imports from the foreign countries.

There is no problem of insects for this crop, he added. The minister further said that Chennur MLA Suman had shown special interest in growing this crop in an area of 12 acres.

He further informed that he is also taking up palm oil cultivation in an area of 8 acres. The Speaker P Srinivas Reddy said that he had initiated this crop while he was the agriculture minister and took up farming in 2 acres of land in Agriculture University and the crop will be coming up this year.

The minister asked other MLAs to encourage farmers to go for oil palm farming in wake of the advantages it has.

He also assured to have a research facility for this crop in consultation with the Agriculture University and Horticulture department.

Replying to another question raised, the minister said that farmers in the state were motivated under seed-village programme by providing seed subsidy and training.

He said that in the state 51,40,458 quintals of various classes of seed has been produced. The government had been providing Rs 140 crore worth quality seeds every year under subsidy to the farmers.

He said that 60 per cent of the seed needs of the country, was being provided by the State.