Tripura’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Ratan Lal Nath, announced the state’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oil production through large-scale oil palm cultivation. India, a leading producer of various agricultural products, faces a significant shortage of edible oil, with only 47% of the demand being met domestically. To address this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm to boost domestic production.
Highlighting the importance of oil palm cultivation, Minister Nath mentioned that the Northeastern and southern states are being prioritized due to their favorable climate and soil conditions. The government is providing free oil palm saplings to farmers and offering financial incentives to support cultivation, including assistance for land preparation and terrace construction.
The main goal of the initiative is to make Tripura self-sufficient in edible oil production while creating additional income sources for farmers. Since coming to power, the government has actively promoted oil palm cultivation, with over 3,500 hectares already under cultivation and plans for further expansion across the state.
