Siddipet Targets 50000 Acres for Oil Palm Cultivation as Ministers Launch Drive
On Friday, Minister for Labour, Employment, Training and Factories Dr. G. Vivek Venkatswamy and Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar launched a mega oil palm plantation programme in Janagama village, Akkannapet mandal, within the Husnabad Assembly constituency of Siddipet district. During the event, the Ministers announced that the Telangana government has set a target to expand oil palm cultivation in Siddipet district to 50,000 acres to promote sustainable, high-income agriculture.
The Ministers participated in the drive by planting oil palm saplings in Janagama village. Speaking to the gathered farmers, Venkatswamy stated that oil palm is currently being cultivated on 14,000 acres in the district and urged local farmers to diversify from traditional crops like paddy toward more remunerative alternatives.
Venkatswamy explained that expanding domestic oil palm cultivation is essential due to the rising demand for edible oils and international developments that have increased prices. Increasing local production will help reduce India's dependence on edible oil imports.
Addressing concerns about the crop, the Minister assured farmers that while oil palm requires patience during its initial years, it provides substantial long-term financial returns. To support farmers during this transition, the government will provide subsidies and Rythu Bharosa scheme benefits during the first four years of cultivation.
Furthermore, Venkatswamy noted that oil palm requires less water compared to paddy. He added that the presence of an oil palm processing factory near Husnabad serves as an added advantage for local cultivators in the region.
To encourage large-scale adoption, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar announced a Rs 5 lakh incentive for any village that brings more than 100 acres under oil palm cultivation. Following this, Venkatswamy, who is also the district In-charge Minister, pledged an additional Rs 5 lakh from his side, raising the total incentive to Rs 10 lakh for such villages.
Referring to agricultural challenges, Venkatswamy mentioned that the state government procured 25 per cent more paddy last year despite the Kaleshwaram project not being fully operational. However, with warehouses currently stocked with paddy, restrictions on rice exports, and limited procurement by the Food Corporation of India, he emphasized that farmers need to adopt alternative high-value crops like oil palm.
Venkatswamy also urged public representatives and Agriculture department officials to conduct extensive awareness campaigns across villages to educate farmers on the benefits of shifting to oil palm.
