Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao announced plans to expand oil palm cultivation to at least 10 lakh acres while promoting alternative crops among farmers. The government will intensify awareness campaigns in view of the El Nino phenomenon and encourage horticulture farming.
Speaking at a review meeting with Horticulture Department and Oilfed officials at the Secretariat on Friday, the minister stressed the need to diversify agricultural production. He called for expanding vegetable cultivation, ensuring quality seeds and improving marketing facilities to explore interstate export opportunities.
Officials reported substantial growth in several horticulture categories. Spice cultivation increased by 65%, red chilli cultivation by 83%, other aromatic crops by 192% and flower cultivation by 198%.
Meanwhile, the minister directed officials to prepare an action plan for expanding oil palm cultivation across the State. The government has set an annual target of two lakh acres to achieve the overall goal of bringing at least 10 lakh acres under the crop.
Oil palm cultivation targets nearly 20 lakh acres of potential land
Tummala Nageswara Rao said Telangana had favourable conditions for oil palm cultivation across nearly 20 lakh acres. He stressed the timely supply of quality saplings, expansion of processing facilities and better coordination with oil palm companies.
The minister directed officials to ensure that factories currently under construction become operational by Sankranti. He also warned that the government could cancel district allocations for companies that fail to meet their cultivation targets.
Alongside oil palm expansion, the government plans to encourage farmers to consider alternative crops and horticulture. Improved seed availability and marketing infrastructure will also support efforts to identify wider markets for agricultural produce.
The review meeting focused on increasing cultivation, strengthening processing capacity and improving coordination between officials and companies. The government aims to implement the proposed measures through a planned expansion of oil palm cultivation and greater awareness of alternative crops.