InfoSAWIT, NEW DELHI – India's Giant Palm Oil Plantation Program has successfully been implemented, with over 1.7 million palm seedlings planted across more than 12,000 hectares in 15 states since the initiative began on July 15, 2024. This program is part of the National Mission on Oil Palm – Palm Oil (NMEO-OP) and aims to benefit over 10,000 farmers nationwide.

Scheduled to conclude on September 15, 2024, the program involves participation from various states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and northeastern states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. This initiative also showcases strong collaboration between the Government of India, state governments, and leading palm oil processing companies, such as Patanjali Food Pvt. Ltd., Godrej Agrovet, and 3F Oil Palm Ltd.

According to InfoSAWIT, as part of the program, various awareness workshops, plantation campaigns, and promotional events have been held to engage the farming community. These events have been attended by key figures and political leaders, emphasizing the importance of expanding palm oil cultivation to enhance domestic crude palm oil (CPO) production.

Launched in August 2021, the National Mission on Oil Palm – Palm Oil (NMEO-OP) aims to promote the growth of palm oil cultivation and create a sustainable supply chain ecosystem for the sector. With a focus on increasing domestic CPO production, the mission is expected to reduce India's dependence on imported vegetable oils while providing economic and social benefits to farmers.

A crucial component of this initiative is the provision of price support for farmers, making palm oil cultivation more profitable. This support is expected to accelerate the adoption of palm oil plantations across the region, with a long-term goal of achieving self-sufficiency in vegetable oil production. (T2)