Under the leadership of Prime Minister NarendraModi, the Government wants to make India self-reliant in the field of palm oil, said Union Minister of Agriculture Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.
Inaugurating the National Mission on Edible Oil- Oil Palm Business Summit for states other than North Eastern States in Hyderabad, he assured all the state governments that there will be no shortage of resources for the successful implementation of the National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm.
“Currently about 3 lakh hectares ofland is under palm oil cultivation while studies have shown that about 28 lakh hectaresof land is suitable for the oil palm cultivation in the country. It is our mission to bring 28-lakh hectares of landunder cultivation to make India Aatmanirbhar in edible oil”, he added.
Appreciating the efforts made by the Government of Telangana to increase palm oil production, Tomar said that he seesTelangana as an emerging leader in oil palm production. Talking about the scope of natural farming in the State, he called upon the State Government to adopt and promote natural farming to reduce the production cost without hampering production.
Tomar expressed happiness at the progress made under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm since the first Business Summit. The Centre has signed MoU with nine state governments for Viability Gap Payment, finalized revised Annual Action Plans of 11 states incorporating new provisions of Mission.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare KailashChoudhary said “at present, we have to import edible oil. Today’s business summit will prove to be important to find a solution to this import.”
Expressing his confidence in Mission, he said that with the help of scientists’ research, farmers’ hard work and the government’s support, this mission will achieve its target and will make a significant contribution in making India self-reliant.In order to boost the edible oils’ production, remunerative prices and assured procurement of oilseed crops is being done by the Government, he added.
