MARKET DEVELOPMENT
East Siang Sets Sight on Oil Palm Industry
East Siang Sets Sight on Oil Palm Industry
28/04/2016 (The Arunachal Times) - Considering the rich potential of oil palm cultivation in the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh and consequent economic gains involved, the state Agriculture Department has implemented oil palm plantation in East Siang and West Siang districts.
The Agriculture (nodal) Department has selected four zones including nine potential districts for oil palm cultivation in the state and thereby identified 1.26 lakh (aprrox) hectares area. It targets 25 lakh hectares plantation within a period of five years in East Siang district, which falls in Zone-III potential area.
Oil palm plantation was launched at Leku farming site under Ruksin circle on Wednesday in presence of agriculture officials and executives of Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd (RSIL), signed on by the state government for promotion of cultivation and industrialization of the oil palm in the district.
District Agriculture Officer Y J Lego said that India imports huge quantity of edible oil from other countries and it was affecting the country’s economy. She emphasized on massive oil palm cultivation to meet the shortfall.
State Nodal Officer for Oil Palm cultivation, TD Neekham informed that the country produces about 9.5 million tones edible oil against 20 million tones oil demand. It has been spending Rs 70 thousand crore per annum for importing edible oil from Malaysia and other countries. Stating that the central government is putting special attention for self reliance in edible oil, he laid stress on oil palm cultivation in potential areas. He also briefed on government subsidy for cultivation activities such as water harvesting, fertilizer management and exposure tour for the growers. Dr Barun Singh of College of Horticulture and Forestry (CHF) informed the farmers that trial plantation of oil palm was made in college campus seven years back and accordingly achieved success. It has recorded average yield of 35 tones oil per hectare.
Explaining the need of oil palm cultivation, corporate (RSIL) head, P Mallesham termed the soil of the state “most” suitable. He was optimistic that the land locked state will achieve success in oil palm cultivation and such cultivation would enhance the farmers’ economy to great extent”.
Mallesham said that though oil cultivation was done in Andhra Pradesh during 1995-96, it needed more than one decade to convince the farmers and commercial horticulturists on its efficacy. He also informed that plantation activities are in progress in Mizoram, while it has started in many parts of Assam.
The general manager of RSIL, KJ Pravakara Rao assured to set up industry in East Siang district, while adviser AK Purukayastha suggested the farmers to adopt the cultivation to maintain crop diversity.
Among others, District Nodal Officer for Oil palm cultivation Opang Moyong, Ruksin ADC T Pada, EAC Orin Lego besides oil palm beneficiaries, local Panchayat leaders and members of Women against Social Evils attended the inaugural programme.
The Agriculture (nodal) Department has selected four zones including nine potential districts for oil palm cultivation in the state and thereby identified 1.26 lakh (aprrox) hectares area. It targets 25 lakh hectares plantation within a period of five years in East Siang district, which falls in Zone-III potential area.
Oil palm plantation was launched at Leku farming site under Ruksin circle on Wednesday in presence of agriculture officials and executives of Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd (RSIL), signed on by the state government for promotion of cultivation and industrialization of the oil palm in the district.
District Agriculture Officer Y J Lego said that India imports huge quantity of edible oil from other countries and it was affecting the country’s economy. She emphasized on massive oil palm cultivation to meet the shortfall.
State Nodal Officer for Oil Palm cultivation, TD Neekham informed that the country produces about 9.5 million tones edible oil against 20 million tones oil demand. It has been spending Rs 70 thousand crore per annum for importing edible oil from Malaysia and other countries. Stating that the central government is putting special attention for self reliance in edible oil, he laid stress on oil palm cultivation in potential areas. He also briefed on government subsidy for cultivation activities such as water harvesting, fertilizer management and exposure tour for the growers. Dr Barun Singh of College of Horticulture and Forestry (CHF) informed the farmers that trial plantation of oil palm was made in college campus seven years back and accordingly achieved success. It has recorded average yield of 35 tones oil per hectare.
Explaining the need of oil palm cultivation, corporate (RSIL) head, P Mallesham termed the soil of the state “most” suitable. He was optimistic that the land locked state will achieve success in oil palm cultivation and such cultivation would enhance the farmers’ economy to great extent”.
Mallesham said that though oil cultivation was done in Andhra Pradesh during 1995-96, it needed more than one decade to convince the farmers and commercial horticulturists on its efficacy. He also informed that plantation activities are in progress in Mizoram, while it has started in many parts of Assam.
The general manager of RSIL, KJ Pravakara Rao assured to set up industry in East Siang district, while adviser AK Purukayastha suggested the farmers to adopt the cultivation to maintain crop diversity.
Among others, District Nodal Officer for Oil palm cultivation Opang Moyong, Ruksin ADC T Pada, EAC Orin Lego besides oil palm beneficiaries, local Panchayat leaders and members of Women against Social Evils attended the inaugural programme.