Assam Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika attended a special stakeholder conference in Guwahati to discuss Oil Palm cultivation in tea gardens. The minister stated that misconceptions regarding oil palm must be cleared, noting that it requires the same amount of water as paddy cultivation and there is no reason for unnecessary fear. He highlighted that this presents a golden opportunity to save thousands of crores of rupees spent on edible oil imports and channel financial benefits directly to farmers. Official approval has been granted for Oil Palm cultivation on up to 5 per cent of unused land within tea gardens. Farmers can secure a guaranteed income of up to Rs 50,000 per bigha through Oil Palm cultivation.
Targets have been set to cultivate Oil Palm across 15,000 hectares of agricultural land and bring 30,000 hectares under irrigation over the next 5 years. Cultivation of multi-crops and Oil Palm will be encouraged on the remaining 5 per cent of unused tea garden land, with special priority given to the Barak Valley.
Tea gardens will be supplied with saplings of litchi, dragon fruit, and areca nut, and starting next year, 5 crore horticultural saplings will be distributed annually to farmers across the state. Exposure tours to Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh will be organised for tea garden owners.
Following the conference, Minister Hazarika held a meeting with fertiliser supplying agencies to
ensure that farmers receive fertilisers on time and at official regulated prices. The minister issued a clear and strict warning against irregularities and exploitation.
Forcing farmers to purchase other unnecessary items when buying subsidised fertilisers will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Shifting additional costs resulting from transportation onto farmers or local retail vendors will not be endured.
Strict legal action will be initiated against anyone attempting to exploit retailers or create artificial fertiliser shortages in the market.
