India’s Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive plants 17 lakh saplings, benefits 10,000 farmers

New Delhi: India’s Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive has planted over 17 lakh oil palm saplings across more than 12,000 hectares in 15 states. The initiative, which began on July 15, 2024, is being carried out under the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) and is expected to benefit over 10,000 farmers.

The plantation drive, which runs until September 15, 2024, has seen active participation from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. These efforts highlight a collaboration between the Government of India, state governments, and leading oil palm processing companies, including Patanjali Food Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet, and 3F Oil Palm Ltd.

As part of the initiative, awareness workshops, plantation campaigns, and promotional events have been organized to engage and educate the farming community. These activities have been supported by the presence of key dignitaries and political leaders who emphasized the importance of expanding oil palm cultivation to boost India’s Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production.

The National Mission for Edible Oils–Oil Palm, launched by the Government of India in August 2021, aims to enhance oil palm cultivation and establish a value chain ecosystem for the sector. By increasing the domestic production of CPO, the mission seeks to reduce India’s reliance on edible oil imports and improve the livelihoods of farmers. A crucial component of this strategy is the viability price support provided to farmers to make oil palm cultivation more profitable.

With this Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive, India is making strides toward achieving self-reliance in edible oils, benefiting both the nation’s economy and its farming community. The initiative serves as a pivotal step in the broader mission to increase the production of Crude Palm Oil and establish India as a key player in the global edible oils market.