Telangana to expand oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh acres

The Telangana government plans to expand oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh acres, with new processing units being set up. Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao highlighted challenges faced by farmers due to reduced import duties, erratic rainfall forecasts, fertiliser factory suspensions, and cotton imports.

Khammam: The State government was aiming to expand oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh acres in Telangana in the coming days, said Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao

Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, he said that Telangana now holds the top position in the country in terms of oil palm cultivation. Construction of seven oil palm processing units was underway across the State, and the factory at Kalloor would commence operations this year.

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Further, the Minister pointed out that domestic farmers were suffering due to the significant reduction in import duties on oil palm. He mentioned that although the Centre was requested multiple times to increase the import duties, there has been no response.

The Minister noted that the India Meteorological Department (IMD), along with several international weather agencies, has predicted a likelihood of reduced rainfall this year due to the influence of El Niño.

Keeping these circumstances in mind, a comprehensive agricultural plan for the Kharif season has been formulated for the district. A decision was taken to utilise the current dead storage water levels in the district’s reservoirs primarily for drinking water requirements.

The Minister advised farmers to cultivate alternative crops that require minimal water. Seeds for the alternative crops were procured and made ready in advance. Farmers were facing difficulties due to the frequent suspension of production at Ramagundam Fertiliser Factory.

Nageswara Rao stated that global market conditions and the Central government policies were having an impact on farmers. Despite large-scale cotton cultivation taking place domestically, the import of cotton was causing financial losses to farmers.

He regretted that despite numerous awareness campaigns conducted in the district, some farmers continue to burn paddy stubble and crop residues. Strict action, including the filing of legal cases, would be taken against anyone found engaging in such activities, he added.

District Collector Divakara TS, Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt, MLAs Ramdas Naik and Matta Ragamayee Dayanand, additional Collector P Srinivas Reddy, Agricultural Market Committee Chairman Hanumantha Rao and others were present.