Tripura Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath inaugurated the Mega Oil Palm Plantation Programme in Killa Agricultural Subdivision, highlighting the state’s efforts to achieve edible oil self-sufficiency. The government is providing financial assistance, free saplings, and infrastructure support to encourage farmers and expand oil palm cultivation.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production, Tripura Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Saturday inaugurated the “Mega Oil Palm Plantation Programme” in Killa Agricultural Subdivision. The programme was organized as part of the state’s broader strategy to expand oil palm cultivation and reduce dependence on imported edible oil.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the present state government has undertaken a series of initiatives to promote oil palm cultivation across Tripura. He emphasized that the primary objective is to make the state and the country self-reliant in edible oil production while enhancing farmers’ income through sustainable agricultural practices.
Speaking at the programme, Nath noted that India is among the world’s leading producers of several agricultural commodities, including rice, turmeric, cardamom, chilli, banana, mango, and millet. Despite these achievements, the country continues to face a significant shortage of edible oil.
“Edible oil is produced from crops such as mustard, sesame, soybean, coconut, and sunflower. However, domestic production currently meets only about 47 percent of the country’s total demand. The remaining requirement is met through imports, resulting in the outflow of a substantial amount of foreign exchange every year,” he said.
The Minister highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target under the National Palm Oil Mission to make India self-reliant in edible oil production. He stated that the climatic and soil conditions of the Northeastern region and southern states are particularly suitable for oil palm cultivation, making these regions key contributors to the mission.
Nath pointed out that the demand and market value of palm oil continue to rise, creating new opportunities for farmers. To encourage large-scale adoption of oil palm cultivation, the state government is providing extensive support and incentives to cultivators.
According to the Minister, farmers are being supplied with costly oil palm saplings free of charge. In addition, the government is providing a one-time assistance of Rs 3,000 for land clearing and bush removal. Financial support of Rs 4,000 per hectare is being offered for terrace construction, while another Rs 4,000 per hectare is provided for fencing purposes.
“We are extending every possible assistance to farmers willing to undertake oil palm cultivation. Our goal is not only to increase production but also to ensure better economic returns for cultivators while moving towards edible oil self-sufficiency,” Nath said.
During the programme, the Minister visited Atharobhola Village Committee under Killa Agricultural Subdivision, where local farmer Pramilakanta Molsom has successfully cultivated oil palm on 12 kani of land. He described such efforts as encouraging examples for other farmers interested in diversifying their agricultural activities.
The Minister also recalled that in 2012, the Central Government had proposed oil palm cultivation on 7,000 hectares of land. However, he alleged that the then state government failed to take adequate steps toward implementing the initiative. Since assuming office, the present government has actively pursued the expansion of oil palm farming and has already brought more than 3,500 hectares under cultivation, he stated.
Nath expressed confidence that with continued support, awareness campaigns, and farmer participation, Tripura would emerge as a significant contributor to India’s edible oil production in the coming years.
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Earlier, the Minister shared his satisfaction at attending the programme amid the monsoon season and described the event as an important and inspiring moment for the agricultural sector. He said initiatives such as the Mega Oil Palm Plantation Programme would play a vital role in strengthening the state’s agricultural infrastructure and creating new avenues of growth for farmers.
The event was attended by Tripura Legislative Assembly Speaker Rampada Jamatia, MLA Abhishek Debroy, MLA Jitendra Majumdar, senior officials of the Agriculture Department, local representatives, and a large number of farmers from the region.
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The state government believes that the expansion of oil palm cultivation will not only reduce dependence on imported edible oil but also contribute significantly to rural development, agricultural diversification, and the vision of building a greener and more prosperous Tripura.
