Telangana aims to bring 10 lakh acres under oil palm cultivation

Telangana aims to bring 10 lakh acres under oil palm cultivation, against an estimated potential of 20 lakh acres. Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao reviewed plans for quality seedlings, processing factories, cocoa intercropping, vegetable cultivation and improved mechanisation coordination.

Hyderabad: In view of the El Nino threat, Telangana is planning to expand horticulture and alternative crop cultivation, with a key focus on oil palm. The government aims to bring at least 10 lakh acres under oil palm cultivation against the estimated potential of 20 lakh acres.

At a review meeting with Horticulture and Oilfed officials at the Secretariat on Friday, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao discussed measures to improve access to quality seeds and marketing facilities, expand vegetable cultivation and explore exports to other States.

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The annual oil palm cultivation target is two lakh acres. Nurseries have been asked to ensure the timely availability of quality seedlings, as rising prices are expected to encourage farmers to take up the crop.

The proposed action plan envisages setting up at least one oil palm processing factory in each erstwhile district. Officials said units under construction were expected to become operational by Sankranti. Allocations to companies failing to meet cultivation targets may be withdrawn.

Cocoa cultivation as an intercrop in oil palm plantations is also being explored, with purchase centres proposed initially in Aswaraopeta and Dammappeta.

The meeting also discussed bringing agricultural mechanisation schemes implemented by the Agriculture and Horticulture departments under a single nodal agency to improve coordination.