Mega Oil Palm plantation drive held; Finance Minister urges to embrace crop shift in Tripura

A Mega Oil Palm Plantation Program was conducted today at the Garjee Sector in Tripura’s Gomati district, marking a key milestone under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). 

The drive was carried out on a 5-hectare plot owned by Thanda Devi Jamatia, who recently shifted from lemon cultivation to oil palm farming.

The event was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Tripura’s Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Matabari MLA Abhishek Deb Roy, Kakraban MLA Jitendra Majumder, Agriculture Director Phani Bhusan Jamatia, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Gomati) Bijan Das, Patanjali’s State Head Ayan Sarkar, and Superintendent of Agriculture Ajay Debbarma. The program also drew social workers, community leaders, and local residents, with an estimated turnout of 150–170 people.

The proceedings began with a ceremonial watering of oil palm saplings by the dignitaries, symbolizing the formal inauguration of the plantation initiative.

In his address, Finance Minister Singha Roy called upon farmers to consider oil palm as a sustainable and high-yielding crop.

He reiterated the state government’s full support for oil palm growers under the NMEO-OP scheme, stressing its potential to raise farmer incomes and reduce dependency on imported edible oils.

Patanjali’s Ayan Sarkar outlined the current progress and future roadmap for oil palm cultivation in the state, assuring farmers of logistical and technical support throughout the process.

Following the formal program, the dignitaries visited the plantation site and interacted with Thanda Devi Jamatia, who spoke about her successful transition to oil palm and encouraged fellow farmers to explore similar opportunities under the scheme.