Nagaland suitable for oil palm cultivation: Yanthan

State level workshop-cum-awareness programme on oil palm cultivation in Nagaland was held at Angh House, Agri Expo Site, Chümoukedima, on Friday. The programme was organised by department of Agriculture.
Addressing the gathering as special guest, advisor of Agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan said that oil palm cultivation was suitable in the state as the product has huge market margin all over the country.
He said edible oil was not very much in demand in the state, but there was huge market probability outside the state. “Demand for oil palm is very high in the country. Around 65% of edible oil comes from oil palm”, he said.
He also said that North East and Andaman and Nicobar Island were being targeted for potential growth of oil palm in the country. The advisor further pointed out that the state has a taunting task, pointing out that around 15000 hectares have been earmarked for plantation of Oil Palm.
Therefore, Yanthan said that people have to work hard and give their best efforts to increase the production and reach the target for installation of processing plants. He said only around 1000 hectares have been currently utilized for Oil Palm cultivation which cannot meet the demands of a processing plant due to less production. Yanthan later expressed happiness to Godrej Agrovet Ltd and Patanjali Foods Ltd for taking up as the implementing agencies.
Meanwhile, delivering the key note address, director of Agrnculture, M Ben Yanthan, said that the Oil Palm cultivation in the state strated in 2016 for welfare of farmers, but could not flourish as planned.
He said state government had earmarked around 15,000 hectares in the Foothills area for the plantation, without disturbing or destroying the natural biodiversity.
The director later informed that MoU was signed with Godrej Agrovet Ltd on January 10, 2023 and with Patanjali Foods Ltd on January 30, 2023.
Earlier, the programme was chaired and welcome address delivered by jt director, Agriculture, Z Hukhato Sema and vote of thanks delivered by deputy director, Agriculture, Dr Beremjungla.
The technical sessions were provided by the two implementing agencies and the department of Agriculture.