Centre, State neglecting Telangana’s palm oil farmers: Harish Rao

Former Minister T Harish Rao criticised the Congress and BJP governments for failing to support oil palm farmers. After inspecting the Narmetta palm oil factory, he demanded restoration of import taxes and immediate work on the refinery and packing unit.

Siddipet: Former Minister T Harish Rao on Wednesday said both the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP-led government at the Centre were failing to support palm oil farmers, despite India importing edible oil worth Rs. one lakh crore every year.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the under-construction palm oil factory at Narmetta in Nanganur mandal, Harish Rao criticised the Congress government for not promoting palm oil cultivation in the State. He alleged that the Centre was also indirectly discouraging farmers by reducing import taxes, which led to a slump in domestic prices.

---

“The BJP government’s decision to reduce the import tax on palm oil from 27 per cent to 17 per cent has hit domestic farmers hard. I demand that the Centre restore the tax to 27 per cent to protect farmers’ interests,” he said.

Rao announced that the Narmetta factory would become operational from the second week of August. He said palm oilcultivation could provide a steady monthly income to farmers and noted that the availability of water through the Kaleshwaram project had made such cultivation feasible.

The former Minister urged the State government to immediately begin work on the proposed refinery and packing unit at the Narmetta oil factory. He added that the previous BRS government had actively encouraged palm oil cultivation across Telangana and said the Narmetta facility would benefit farmers while creating both direct and indirect employment for local youth.

ఆయిల్ ఫామ్ సాగును తీవ్ర నిర్లక్ష్యం చేస్తున్న కాంగ్రెస్ ప్రభుత్వం

కాంగ్రెస్ అధికారంలోకి వచ్చిన నాటి నుండి ఇప్పటివరకు కొత్తగా ఎక్కడ ఆయిల్ ఫామ్ సాగు చేయలేదు.

– మాజీ మంత్రి, ఎమ్మెల్యే @BRSHarish pic.twitter.com/NO274iL2VL

— BRS Party (@BRSparty) June 25, 2025