The Tripura government has set an ambitious target of bringing around 7,000 hectares of wasteland under oil palm cultivation by the 2026-27 financial year.
The move is part of the Centre’s National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), which aims to promote oil palm farming across the country.
In 2020, the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research reassessment committee expanded the potential area for oil palm cultivation in the state to 1.46 lakh hectares through digital mapping, a significant increase from the initial 7,000 hectares identified by the Centre.
According to P B Jamatia, Director of the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department, Tripura has favourable agro-climatic conditions for oil palm cultivation.
"We are working rigorously to achieve the target set for the 2026-27 financial year. This will contribute significantly to the state’s agricultural landscape," Jamatia stated.
Two prominent processors, Godrej Agrovet Pvt Ltd and Patanjali Foods Pvt Ltd, have been selected as technical partners for implementing the mission. The companies have been allocated specific areas for the initiative.
Godrej Agrovet has already established an oil palm nursery at Nalkata in Dhalai district, with plans to produce 1.55 lakh seedlings of both exotic and indigenous types.
Meanwhile, Patanjali Foods has set up another nursery at Jumerdepa in Sepahijala district.
Jamatia highlighted the potential benefits of oil palm cultivation for rural communities. Intercropping, which involves growing multiple crops simultaneously in the same field, will be encouraged.
"Beneficiaries can grow vegetables, papaya, turmeric, cocoa, ginger, bush pepper, banana, and pineapples alongside oil palm," he added.
The Centre has released Rs 5.14 crore for the initiative, while the state government has allocated Rs 51.41 lakh for oil palm cultivation during the 2022-23 financial year.
Under the NMEO-OP, each beneficiary will receive Rs 1 lakh per hectare of land for up to four years of cultivation.
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