Hyderabad: The Telangana government has set a target of expanding oil palm cultivation to 50,000 acres in Siddipet district to promote sustainable farming and improve farmers’ incomes, Labour, Employment, Training & Factories and Mines Minister G. Vivek Venkatswamy said on Friday.
The Minister, who is also the district in-charge Minister, said oil palm is already being cultivated on 14,000 acres in Siddipet. He urged farmers to diversify towards high-value crops to meet the growing domestic demand for edible oils and reduce dependence on imports.
Vivek Venkatswamy, along with Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, participated in the Mega Oil Palm Plantation Programme at Janagama village in Akkannapet mandal of Husnabad Assembly constituency, where they planted oil palm saplings.
The Minister said global developments have pushed up edible oil prices, making higher domestic production essential. He assured farmers that although oil palm takes time to generate returns, the crop provides substantial long-term income. He added that cultivators would receive government subsidies and benefits under the Rythu Bharosa scheme during the first four years.
Incentives to promote oil palm cultivation
Vivek Venkatswamy said oil palm cultivation requires comparatively less water than paddy. He also noted that the presence of an oil palm processing factory near Husnabad offers a major advantage for farmers by ensuring easier access to processing facilities.
Referring to paddy procurement, he said the State government procured 25 per cent more paddy last year despite the Kaleshwaram project not being fully operational. However, warehouses are currently stocked with paddy, while restrictions on rice exports and limited procurement by the Food Corporation of India have increased the need to encourage alternative high-value crops.
The Minister said farmers in Chennur are also showing interest in oil palm cultivation. He asked elected representatives and Agriculture Department officials to conduct extensive awareness campaigns to educate farmers about the crop’s long-term benefits.
To encourage wider adoption, Ponnam Prabhakar announced an incentive of ₹5 lakh for any village that brings more than 100 acres under oil palm cultivation. Vivek Venkatswamy immediately announced an additional ₹5 lakh as the district in-charge Minister, increasing the total incentive to ₹10 lakh for such villages.
The Ministers also felicitated farmer Sampath for taking up oil palm cultivation and appreciated his efforts in promoting the crop among farmers.