The mega oil plantation drive organized between July & August, 2023 witnessed participation from the North East (NE) states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The North East states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, and Nagaland have participated in a mega oil plantation drive covering over 750 hectares in 19 districts. The drive aligns with the National Mission for Edible Oils- Oil Palm, which aims to increase crude palm oil production in India.
The Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) assessed that around 28 lakh hectares are suitable for oil palm cultivation in India, with 9.62 lakh in the NE States. Around 9 million tonnes of palm oil are imported annually, accounting for 56% of the total edible oil imports.
To reduce dependency on imports, ICAR-IIOPR is mandated to provide research on genetic resource management, crop improvement, and production technologies for enhancing oil palm productivity. Oil palm is one of the highest-yielding crops, with the potential to generate direct employment for around 11 million people in the region. Sougata Niyogi, CEO of Oil Palm Plantation Business, states that North-East India’s favorable weather conditions, with rainfall ranging from 1,000-3,000 MM, are ideal for oil palm plantations.
