Agri Minister Atul Bora Kickstarts Plantation of Oil-Palm Seedlings Initiative to Boost Sustainable Farming

Assam's Minister of Agriculture, Atul Bora, inaugurated the oil palm plantation initiative under the National Edible Oil Mission- Oil Palm Scheme in Bokanola village, Boginadi Gaon Panchayat of Lakhimpur district.

The program aims to boost domestic production of edible oils and reduce India's reliance on imports. Currently, India imports around 60-70 percent of its edible oil, with palm oil being a significant component.

In August 2021, the Indian Government launched the Oil Palm Scheme to expand the cultivation of this crop on unused or fallow land across the country. The primary objective is to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oil production. The scheme has been implemented in 22 states, including the northeastern states.

The Government of Assam has placed significant emphasis on the welfare of farmers under this scheme by expanding oil palm cultivation and increasing oil production within the state. The target is to cultivate oil palm on 2 lakh hectares of agricultural land in Assam. To achieve this goal, various steps have been taken by the government, including the allocation of specific districts for implementation.

Currently, the scheme is being implemented in 18 districts of Assam, namely Kamrup, Goalpara, Chirang, Udalguri, Sonitpur, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Dhemaji, and Lakhimpur.

Since oil palm is a new crop for Assam's farmers, the availability of seedlings is limited. To address this, the government has selected experienced oil palm companies through a tender process and appointed them as program implementing partners. For Lakhimpur district, 3F Oil Palm has been chosen as the responsible company.

To ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the scheme at the district level, a Project Management Team has been formed, with the Deputy Commissioner serving as the chairman. By reducing dependency on edible oil imports and promoting domestic production, the government aims to enhance food security, create employment opportunities, and improve the income of farmers.

It is expected that with proper execution and support, this scheme will contribute significantly to the growth and development of the agricultural sector in Assam and India.