Tea Planters Urge Government for Oil Palm Cultivation in Assam
Guwahati: The North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) has requested both the Central and state governments to extend the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme to the tea estates in Assam for growing oil palm trees.
Government Support Needed
NETA adviser Bidyananda Barkakoty mentioned that the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has agreed to extend the NMEO-OP scheme to allow cultivation of oil palm trees on five percent of the tea gardens in Assam. However, due to certain conditions in the guidelines, the tea estates were unable to benefit from the scheme.
Therefore, NETA has appealed to both the Central and Assam governments to extend the NMEO-OP scheme to the tea gardens to support oil palm cultivation.
Benefits of Oil Palm Cultivation
According to NETA, a study conducted in-house showed that tea and oil palm cultivation can coexist harmoniously. The cultivation of oil palm trees and other cash crops on a small portion of tea garden land could help overcome the current economic challenges faced by the tea industry.
In a Gazette notification, the Assam government approved the use of five percent of total tea garden land for specific purposes, including cash crops like oil palm trees. The West Bengal government also allowed 15 percent of tea garden land for similar purposes.
NMEO-OP Assistance
The assistance under the NMEO-OP scheme includes support for planting material, management for the initial four years, inputs for intercropping, land clearance, irrigation, and other necessary tools. There is also a special package for the northeastern states.
India heavily relies on imports to meet its edible oil requirements and is the largest importer of edible oils globally. The NMEO-OP scheme aims to boost edible oilseeds production, increase oil availability in the country, and reduce the dependency on imported oils.
NETA Representation
NETA, a 44-year-old association representing 179 tea companies across Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, plays a vital role in the tea industry. Their members contribute significantly to Assam’s total tea production, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the output.
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