Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday launched the mega oil palm plantation drive at Bamshiri, Shantinagar V.C under Jirania sub-division.

Addressing in the launching ceremony Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath said farmers will be benefited from commercial cultivation of palm trees, there is a huge demand for palm oil. Oil palm cultivation will make Tripura self-sufficient in edible oils, he added.

The farmers of the state will be benefited if palm trees are cultivated commercially. The government is sincerely working for the welfare of the people of all parts of the state. Overall development of villages and towns is the priority area of the government. Many lands are still lying vacant in the hilly areas of the state. The government has taken various programs to make the farmers economically self-reliant by utilizing these lands. That is why priority has been given to the production of cash crops. It takes four years for a palm tree to mature. A subsidy of Rs 1 lakh per hectare will be given to the beneficiary during these four years.

Oil palm produces 10-46 times more oil per hectare compared to other oilseed crops such as mustard, with exponential applications. Thus, it has enormous potential for promotion of its cultivation, he added.

Palm Oil trees are resistant and tolerant against various insect and disease pests. Oil Palm cultivation requires less input than other commercial oil seed farming. Cost of Oil Palm cultivation is less as compared with other oil seed cultivation, the minister added.

MLA Biswajit Koloi, Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Apoorba Roy and others were present.