Bhubaneswar, April 12:The Odisha government, on Friday, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Patanjali Foods Limited, Tummala Agro Products, and Livpalm Resources to promote large-scale oil palm farming in Odisha.
The cash crop cultivation will be initially introduced in Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, and Cuttack districts.
The move is part of the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), which targets 2,600 hectares of palm plantations across the state.
So far, 1,042 hectares of oil palm have been cultivated in Odisha.
Underlining the role of Odisha in promoting the edible oil crop production, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said that the project will ensure better business opportunity for farmers, create jobs, and reduce reliance on imported edible oils.
“This strategic collaboration will boost self-reliance in edible oil production, enhance farmers' income, and promote sustainable agricultural growth in Odisha,” the Dy. CM wrote on his official X handle.
On the other hand, palm-based companies pledged Tech-Driven Farming here in Odisha.
The companies also assured to utilising modern techniques to maximize the oil palm yields.
According to reports, the Patanjali Foods will operate in the Cuttack district, Tummala Agro in Angul, and the Livpalm in Dhenkanal and Jajpur districts.Further, representatives of the companies promised to support farmers with essential training and resources.
Officials highlighted that oil palm, a high-yield crop, can generate 10 to 15 times more oil per hectare than traditional crops like mustard.
This shift is expected to attract agro-industries, boosting exports and local processing units.
The project also aims to create thousands of employment in the rural suburbs.
