Centre asks states to boost efforts under National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasizes that states must prioritize achieving plantation targets by addressing bottlenecks and mobilizing available resources.
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The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has urged all states to intensify efforts under the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). “This mission serves as a cornerstone of India’s vision to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oil production, reduce dependence on imports, and enhance farmer incomes,” stated an Agriculture Ministry press release.
Launched to promote domestic oil palm cultivation, the mission aims to bring 6.5 lakh hectares under oil palm plantations by 2025-26. Special emphasis is being placed on leveraging the agro-climatic potential of the North-eastern region and other oil palm-growing states.
While significant progress has been made in certain regions, others must accelerate their efforts. The underutilization of allocated funds and delays in achieving plantation targets underscores the urgency of adopting a more focused and coordinated approach.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that states must prioritize achieving their plantation targets by addressing bottlenecks and mobilizing available resources. With substantial unspent funds under NMEO-OP, states are encouraged to enhance resource utilization for infrastructure development, farmer support, and plantation expansion. States must also intensify farmer engagement, tackle challenges such as misinformation, and expedite the disbursal of assistance to ensure farmer satisfaction and sustained participation.
The Union Minister reiterated the importance of a united effort to achieve Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in edible oil production. A robust partnership between the central and state governments, implementing agencies, and farmers will be critical in realizing the mission’s goals.
The government has introduced initiatives such as digital monitoring through geo-mapping and drone surveillance to improve transparency and efficiency. The Minister urged states to fully cooperate with these measures. Additionally, the Viability Price (VP) mechanism has been introduced to safeguard farmers against market volatility. States must ensure the timely signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to facilitate this benefit for farmers.
