Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao urged oil palm companies on Tuesday to expand oil palm cultivation in Telangana and supply quality planting material to farmers. The Minister made the appeal as representatives of Godrej met him at the State Secretariat and submitted proposals to develop the oil palm industry.
Tummala, who also holds the Marketing, Cooperation, Handlooms and Textiles portfolios, called for greater efforts to increase cultivation across the state. Meanwhile, the company sought government support for its integrated oil palm unit at Anjanapuram village in Konijerla mandal of Khammam district.
Godrej seeks incentives for oil palm cultivation in Telangana
During the meeting, Godrej representatives requested a special incentive package for the integrated oil palm unit established at Anjanapuram. They asked the state government to intervene in securing additional financial incentives for the facility.
The company proposed that the special package should supplement benefits available under two existing state policies. These include the Telangana Food Processing and Preservation Policy and the Telangana State Industrial Development and Entrepreneur Promotion Policy.
Godrej representatives submitted the request as part of their proposals to support the development of the state’s oil palm industry. The representatives also requested the government to undertake road-widening works to facilitate operations at the Anjanapuram unit.
Additionally, Godrej sought the allocation of another 35 acres of land for a proposed oil palm seed garden. The company described the proposed facility as India’s first seed garden dedicated to producing sixth-generation hybrid oil palm seeds.
The proposal formed part of its plans to strengthen planting material production for the oil palm sector. The request for additional land accompanied the company’s proposals for special incentives and improved road infrastructure.
Minister calls for quality planting material
Tummala emphasised the need for companies to increase oil palm cultivation in Telangana while ensuring farmers received quality planting material. He called on companies operating in the sector to intensify their efforts to expand the crop’s cultivation.
The meeting focused on the industry’s requirements, including incentives, infrastructure and land for hybrid seed production. Godrej representatives placed these proposals before the Minister for government consideration.