Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao directed officials to expand oil palm processing capacity in line with the rapid growth in cultivation. He said the government aimed to increase oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh acres across Telangana over the next three years. Accordingly, processing, transport and other infrastructure would also have to expand.
Tummala visited the oil palm processing plant at Narmetta village in Nangunur mandal of Siddipet district on Saturday. District Collector Haimavathi accompanied him.
During the visit, the Minister reviewed the collection, transportation and processing of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB). He also examined water availability, plant operations and services provided to farmers. Tummala said the government was expanding oil palm cultivation while developing infrastructure required by growers.
Oil palm processing capacity could reach 120 TPH at Narmetta
The Narmetta plant had processed more than 70,000 metric tonnes of FFB since it began operations, Tummala said. Currently, the plant was operating at its full capacity of 30 tonnes per hour. However, the Minister said rising cultivation could substantially increase FFB production in the future.
Therefore, processing infrastructure needed to keep pace with the expected increase in production. Tummala said the Narmetta facility could expand its capacity to 120 tonnes per hour to meet future requirements.
He said processing facilities located close to farms offered significant advantages to growers. Farmers would not have to transport harvested FFB over long distances.
Moreover, moving FFB to processing plants soon after harvesting would help maintain its quality. Shorter distances and travel times would also reduce the transportation burden on farmers. The government would develop processing facilities close to oil palm-growing areas, Tummala said. It would also expand infrastructure as cultivation increased.
Minister reviews yields with Siddipet oil palm farmers
Tummala interacted with oil palm farmers from Siddipet district during his visit. He sought information about plantation management, yields, harvesting, FFB collection, transportation and processing.
Madapa Yella Reddy of Nangunur village reported a yield of 60 tonnes from five acres. Oruganti Raji Reddy of Mysampalli village reported 32.5 tonnes from three acres. Pinreddy Raji Reddy of Venkateshwarapalli village in Koheda mandal reported 9.6 tonnes from 2.5 acres.
Bapu Reddy of Kuchinapalli village in Husnabad mandal reported a yield of 17 tonnes from three acres. Together, the four farmers reported 119.1 tonnes of production from 13.5 acres.
Tummala discussed their experiences and advised growers to follow scientific cultivation practices. He also stressed proper water management, timely harvesting and appropriate crop management to achieve higher yields.
Meanwhile, farmers informed the Minister about problems they faced and facilities they required. They also raised issues concerning the future expansion of oil palm cultivation.
Oil palm processing capacity linked to 10-lakh-acre target
Tummala said the government was encouraging cultivation in areas with suitable climatic conditions, land and water resources. The government aimed to expand oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh acres within three years, he said. Consequently, FFB production would increase as the cultivated area expanded.
The Minister said the state would need additional processing plants, transport facilities and supporting infrastructure to handle the higher production. He added that encouraging farmers to grow oil palm alone was not sufficient. The government also had a responsibility to ensure timely processing of their produce.
Tummala said expanded cultivation could create long-term opportunities for farmers in Telangana. Oil palm cultivation had already increased significantly across the state, he added. However, he said further expansion required efficient access to markets, transportation and processing services.
Water supply to Narmetta plant reviewed
Tummala separately reviewed water availability for the Narmetta processing plant. Considering the prevailing low rainfall, he directed officials to prevent any water shortage at the facility. The government would examine measures to supply water from the Thapasapalli and Ranganayaka Sagar reservoirs, he said.
A continuous water supply would help prevent disruptions to FFB processing. It would also allow the plant to process produce received from farmers without delay. The Minister said officials should maintain an efficient system at every stage, from FFB collection to transportation and processing.
He directed them to move farmers’ produce to the plant promptly and process it without unnecessary delays. In addition, he sought adequate technical assistance, transportation facilities and processing services for growers.
During the inspection, Tummala and the Collector reviewed daily processing capacity and cumulative FFB processing. They also examined water availability and plant operations. Furthermore, they reviewed plans to expand oil palm processing capacity to handle the expected growth in FFB production.
District and Agriculture Department officials attended the programme. TG Oil Fed officials, processing plant officials, employees, oil palm farmers and media representatives also participated.