Telangana targets 50,000 acres under oil palm cultivation; Rs 5 lakh incentive announced
Jangaon, July 10 (TNT): The Telangana government on Friday launched a mega oil palm plantation programme in Jangaon district, with Minister for Industries Dr G. Vivek Venkataswamy announcing a target of bringing 50,000 acres under oil palm cultivation in the region and an incentive of Rs 5 lakh for villages taking up the crop on a large scale.
Dr Vivek along with Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, planted oil palm saplings at Jangaon village in Akkannapet mandal of Husnabad Assembly constituency as part of the programme.
The Ministers also felicitated farmer Sampath for successfully cultivating oil palm.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Vivek said oil palm cultivation was already being undertaken on 14,000 acres in the district and the government aimed to expand the area to 50,000 acres.
He said farmers cultivating oil palm would receive government subsidy for four years and stressed the need to increase domestic edible oil production to reduce dependence on imports.
Referring to global developments, the Minister said international conflicts had led to volatility in edible oil prices, making it imperative to promote oil palm cultivation in the country.
He said oil palm was a remunerative crop that did not require excessive quantities of water and could provide substantial returns after four years.
Highlighting the availability of an oil palm processing factory near Husnabad, he said the facility would ensure better market access and profitability for farmers.
Calling upon public representatives and officials to create awareness about the benefits of oil palm cultivation, the Minister announced that if Ponnam Prabhakar sanctioned Rs 5 lakh as an incentive to villages bringing 100 acres under oil palm cultivation, he would contribute an additional Rs 5 lakh in his capacity as the district in-charge minister.
He also said farmers in Chennur were showing growing interest in taking up oil palm cultivation.
Munnuru Kapu Corporation Chairman Bomma Sriram Chakravarthy, Joint Collector Lakshmi Kiran, Market Committee Chairman Tirupati Reddy, PACS Chairman Shivaiah and other officials and public representatives attended the programme.
TNT TS
