Aim to add another 2k acres under oil palm cultivation in Siddipet constituency: Harish

Former Minister T Harish Rao directed horticulture and Oilfed officials to expand oil palm cultivation by 2,000 acres in Siddipet. He also stressed farmer awareness, easier fertiliser access and proposed development works at Machavani Kunta lake with an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore

Siddipet: Former Minister T Harish Rao asked the horticulture and Oilfed officials to increase the area under oil palm cultivation by 2,000 acres during the season in addition to the existing 4,800 acres.

Speaking to officials from his constituency in Siddipet on Monday, Rao urged them to conduct awareness programmes at the grassroots level on the need to switch to oil palm cultivation from traditional crops. The former minister also asked them to educate farmers on the fertilisers that need to be used, apart from other crop management practices.

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Stating that Oilfed officials should reach out to farmers, he asked them to supply urea to oil palm farmers without using the fertiliser app. Rao toured extensively across his constituency on Monday.

Earlier, Rao inaugurated a water plant established by Balavikasa at Shankaraya Kunta in Chinna Kodur mandal. Later in the evening, Rao inspected the Machavani Kunta lake in Siddipet. Asking the officials to prepare plans to develop the lake by spending Rs 1 crore, he said there should be a walking track and other recreational facilities on the lake bund.