Bhatti Vikramarka inaugurates Integrated Oil Palm Complex, calls oil palm an assured source of income even during drought
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday said oil palm cultivation offers farmers assured income even during adverse conditions such as El Nino and
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday said oil palm cultivation offers farmers assured income even during adverse conditions such as El Nino and drought, reaffirming the government’s continued support to promote the crop. He was speaking after inaugurating Godrej Agrovet Limited’s ₹300-crore Integrated Oil Palm Complex, claimed to be India’s first-of-its-kind facility, at Anjanapuram village in Konijerla mandal of Khammam district.
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Godrej Industries Group Chairperson Nadir Godrej and others were present. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Vikramarka said Khammam district is synonymous with agriculture and farming is the backbone of the local economy. He urged farmers to take oil palm cultivation for higher productivity and better returns. He noted that India produces only 12 lakh metric tonnes of palm oil against an annual requirement of around 25 lakh metric tonnes, resulting in heavy imports and foreign exchange outflow.
Stating that oil palm cultivation has expanded to nearly three lakh acres since its introduction in 1991-92, he said the price of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) has increased from around ₹12,500 per tonne in 2023 to nearly ₹23,000 per tonne today,
reflecting the growing economic value of the crop. He said the integrated facility spread over 113 acres, houses R&D, seed genetics, nurseries, milling and refining units, and will boost oil palm cultivation besides transforming Khammam into a major agro-based industrial hub.
The BriefWire