Guwahati: In an attempt to make Assam Atmanirbhar in production of edible oils, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday led the state in joining the movement in producing edible palm oil when he along with Yoga Guru Ramdev planted saplings of oil palm at Saikhowaghat in Tinsukia.
It may be noted that with this plantation, a target has been set to bring 3.75 lakh hectare under the cultivation of oil palm.
Sarma said that the main objective of this movement is to revolutionise agro economy through oil palm plantation.
He said that as a part of series of steps to promote oil palm plantation, Patanjali Food Limited (PFL), a food-based company has set a target of 60,300 hectare plantation by 2026.
He said that since farmers are keen to adopt oil palm as a new crop to supplement and boost their income, and the government is taking steps to promote cultivation of oil palm trees.
He also said that PFL will develop palm oil plantation in seven districts namely Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro) and Goalpara. PFL is planning to set up 16 nurseries by the coming year to facilitate quality seeding supply to farmers.
PFL will set up 12 refineries in seven districts this year and another four by next year. Moreover, PFL will set up oil palm processing factory at Dhing and Nagaon.
As a part of the nation’s initiative in starting the movement of oil palm production, Assam, considering its potential in oil palm production, has taken this initiative. The Chief Minister on the occasion thanked Yoga Guru Ramdev for coming out to help Assam in oil palm production.