Hyderabad, June 4: Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Wednesday said the state aims to expand oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh acres in the coming years, strengthening its position as the country’s leading oil palm producer.
Speaking to the media in Khammam, the Minister said Telangana currently ranks first in India in oil palm cultivation. He added that seven oil palm processing units are under construction across the state, while the processing factory at Kaloor is expected to begin operations this year.
Telangana Oil Palm Cultivation Expansion Gains Momentum
Nageswara Rao expressed concern over the difficulties faced by oil palm farmers due to a sharp reduction in import duties on edible oils. He said the state government had repeatedly urged the Centre to increase import duties but had not received a response.
The Minister also highlighted weather concerns ahead of the Kharif season. He said the India Meteorological Department and several international weather agencies have predicted below normal rainfall due to the impact of El Niño.
Keeping these forecasts in view, the government has prepared a comprehensive Kharif action plan. He said available dead storage water in district reservoirs would be reserved primarily for drinking water needs.
The Minister advised farmers to shift towards alternative crops that require less water. He said seeds for such crops have already been procured and made available in advance.
Nageswara Rao also raised concerns over repeated production disruptions at the Ramagundam Fertiliser Factory, stating that farmers were facing difficulties due to the interruptions.
He said global market trends and Central government policies were affecting farmers’ incomes. Despite large scale cotton cultivation in the country, cotton imports were resulting in financial losses for growers, he added.
The Minister further warned against stubble burning. He said some farmers continue to burn paddy residue despite repeated awareness campaigns. Strict action, including legal cases, would be initiated against those violating the rules.
District officials, public representatives, and agriculture department officers attended the review meeting.
