Siddipet, July 10: Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Friday urged farmers to adopt oil palm cultivation, stating that it offers better long-term returns and can help reduce India’s dependence on imported edible oils.
Speaking after participating in a Mega Oil Palm Plantation Programme at Jangama village in Akkannapet mandal of Husnabad constituency, the minister said the state government is actively encouraging farmers to diversify towards oil palm cultivation.
Ponnam Prabhakar said a meeting was organised with farmers owning five acres or more to promote oil palm farming.
He noted that Telangana aims to cultivate 50,000 acres of oil palm in the district, while cultivation has already crossed 14,000 acres.
The minister also highlighted incentives announced by the government to encourage farmers:
- ₹5 lakh development incentive for villages cultivating oil palm on 100 acres
- ₹10 lakh incentive for larger villages achieving 200 acres of cultivation
He added that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recently inaugurated a new oil palm processing factory at Narmetta to strengthen the sector.
Warning that El Niño conditions could trigger drought-like situations, Ponnam Prabhakar advised farmers to adopt crops that are better suited to changing climatic conditions.
He said oil palm cultivation offers several advantages, including reduced vulnerability to monkey attacks and better resilience against climate-related challenges.
The minister appealed to political leaders and public representatives to create awareness among farmers about the benefits of oil palm cultivation beyond political considerations.
Industries Minister Vivek Venkataswamy, who also participated in the programme, said increasing domestic oil palm production is crucial for India’s edible oil security.
He noted that international uncertainties, including tensions in West Asia, have contributed to rising edible oil prices, making domestic production more important.
Vivek said oil palm requires comparatively less water and is also being promoted in the Chennur region.
He further announced an additional incentive, stating that if villages receive ₹5 lakh from Minister Ponnam Prabhakar for achieving 100 acres of oil palm cultivation, he would contribute another ₹5 lakh as the district in-charge minister.
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