Over 17 Lakh Oil Palm Saplings Planted Across 15 States to Boost Farmer Income

As part of the National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), over 17 lakh oil palm saplings have been planted across 15 states in India, covering 12,000 hectares and benefiting more than 10,000 farmers. The Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive, which started on July 15, 2024, shows the strong efforts of the Government of India, state governments, and oil palm processing companies to increase oil palm cultivation in the country.

The plantation drive, which will continue until September 15, 2024, has seen active participation from states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam. Other states involved include Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

The initiative has been supported by key companies such as Patanjali Food Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet, and 3F Oil Palm Ltd. These companies have worked alongside the state governments to organize workshops, plantation campaigns, and events to promote oil palm cultivation. These events helped raise awareness among farmers about the benefits of oil palm cultivation and were attended by important dignitaries who stressed the mission’s importance for India’s future.

The National Mission for Edible Oils – Oil Palm was launched by the Government of India in August 2021. Its goal is to increase Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production by creating a full value chain for oil palm development. This helps India move toward self-reliance in edible oils, reducing the need for imports and increasing the income of Indian farmers