Guwahati: In an attempt to make Assam Atmanirbhar in
production of edible oils, State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on
Tuesday led it in joining the movement in producing edible palm oil,
when he along with Yoga guru Ramdev planted saplings of oil palm at
Saikhowaghat in Tinsukia.
It may be noted that with this plantation, a target has been set to
bring 3.75 lakh hectare under the cultivation of oil palm. Sarma
stated that the main objective of this movement is to revolutionise
the agro economy through oil palm plantation. He added that as a part
of a series of steps to promote oil palm plantation, Patanjali Food
Limited (PFL), a food-based company, has set a target of 60,300
hectare plantation by 2026.
Sarma said that since farmers are keen to adopt oil palm as a new crop
to supplement and boost their income, the government is taking steps
to promote cultivation of oil palm trees. PFL will develop palm oil
plantations in seven districts namely Dibrugarh,Tinsukia, Golaghat,
Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro) and Goalpara, he added.
PFL is planning to set up 16 nurseries by the coming year to
facilitate quality seeding supply to farmers and it will set up 12
refineries in seven districts this year and another four by next year.
Moreover, it will set up oil palm processing factories at Dhing and
Nagaon, stated Sarma, adding that as a part of the nation’s initiative
in starting the movement of oil palm production, Assam has taken this
initiative.
