Mizoram governor Hari Kambhampati held a review meeting with senior officials of the state agriculture department and partner company Godrej Agrovet and Patanjali Foods Limited at the Governor’s House in Aizawl on March 14.
Hari Babu Kambhampati stressed the objectives of the national edible oil mission-oil palm (NMEO-OP), and said the Prime Minister is prioritizing increasing the domestic production of edible oil and pulses to reduce the huge expenditure incurred on importing from foreign countries at present.
Governor suggested Mizoram also has to play an important part in increasing the volume of these essential commodities domestically. He urged the agricultural department and their partner companies to improve the existing mechanism applied in the current production of raw materials for edible oil and also pulses.
Oil palm cultivation in Mizoram was started in 2005-06 after The Mizoram Oil Palm (Regulation of Production & Processing) Act 2004 was passed.
Initially, the potential area for oil palm identified was 66,791 hectre (3.16% of geographical area). Then, 26,730 hectre was covered under oil palm cultivation. After the recent survey, only 3398 hectre is under active cultivation. The oil palm cultivation spreads across 7 districts and covered 193 villages with the involvement of 2733 farmers.
A study team for pilot research and study on oil palm cultivation and its effect on the environment was constituted.
Oil palm seed garden is being set up at West Serzawl Village, Mamit District. The garden is expected to yield high-quality seeds in 2024-25 for sale within the state and the northeastern states. The seed production is estimated to earn a sizeable revenue annually.
