Godrej Agrovet on Monday inaugurated India's first Integrated Oil Palm Complex in Khammam, Telangana, marking a significant step towards strengthening the country's edible oil ecosystem through an integrated seed-to-refinery model.
The company said the project, which will involve a cumulative investment of Rs 300 crore once fully operational, brings together every stage of the oil palm value chain under one roof. The integrated complex includes seed and genetics facilities, a nursery, a research and development centre, an oil palm mill and a state-of-the-art refinery that is currently under development.
The company has already commenced operations at the oil palm mill, which has an initial processing capacity of 30 tonnes per hour and has been designed for expansion to 60 tonnes per hour. It is also the first private-sector oil palm mill established in Telangana.
Godrej Agrovet plans to expand the area under oil palm cultivation in Telangana from the present 10,000 hectares to 30,000 hectares by 2030, with the new complex expected to play a key role in achieving this target.
The facility also houses a Samadhan Centre, a one-stop support hub offering oil palm growers technical advisory services, access to quality farm inputs and other extension services.
Speaking at the inauguration, Burjis Godrej, Chairperson Designate of Godrej Agrovet, described the project as a milestone for Telangana's oil palm mission and said it would help transform the livelihoods of farming households while contributing to India's edible oil security.
Managing Director and CEO Sunil Kataria said integrating the entire oil palm value chain at a single location would improve quality, operational efficiency and consistency while reinforcing the company's long-term commitment to supporting farmers and expanding domestic edible oil production.