Nagaland team undertakes tour to promote oil palm cultivation

April 18, 2023 27 Views No Comment

Dimapur, April 18 (MExN): A team of agriculture officers from Nagaland visited Andhra Pradesh on a study tour to get first-hand experience on the various aspects of oil palm cultivation from April 12 to 16.

It may be mentioned that the Department of Agriculture, Government of Nagaland has signed Memorandum of Understanding with two companies based in Andhra Pradesh- Godrej Agrovet Pvt Ltd (GAVL) and Patanjali Foods Limited.

The team from Nagaland led by M Ben Yanthan, Director of Agriculture, Hukhato Sema Jt Director of Agriculture (Oil Palm) and Ronchamo Kikon, Subject matter Specialist undertook the tour to promote oil palm cultivation and set up processing facilities in the State.

During the study tour, a press release received here stated that both the companies “gave assurance for buy-back of fresh fruit bunches from the existing plantation areas.”

The team made an extensive tour to all the oil palm plantation areas including processing facilities, nurseries, collection centres and had one-to-one interaction with oil palm farmers at various locations.

Raju Prasad Choudhury, Advisor- North East, GAVL along with team explained the entire product life cycle practically from sampling to plantation, processing and finish product. He has coined the term “Agri-Army” for oil palm farmers, saving country from forex drainage. It is the 2nd largest import commodity in value term after fuel oil, the release stated.

Sougata Niyogi, CEO-GAVL welcomed the team and expressed gratitude to Government of Nagaland for giving opportunities to serve Nagaland.

GAVL has aggressive plan to help farmer under Zone I. Therefore, marketing and profitability of the produce of oil palm is ensured as both the empanelled companies are the leading players of the country in edible oil, it stated.