Nagaland launches mega oil palm plantation drive at Chümoukedima to boost farmers’ income and reduce edible oil imports.
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DIMAPUR — The Department of Agriculture, Government of Nagaland, launched ‘Mega oil palm plantation drive’ under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) 2025-26 at Doyapur Council Hall, Chümoukedima, on March 20.
Addressing the gathering, SDO (Civil) Dhansiripar, Vejoyo Swuro highlighted that the initiative would generate employment opportunities for the public and urged citizens to avail and benefit from such schemes, a DIPR report stated.
The official said that Dhansiripar sub-division has fertile land and encouraged the farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices for long-term benefits.
Swuro acknowledged the significant contribution of farmers to the country’s GDP and assured that the district administration would extend all possible support to the farming community.
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He emphasised the importance of maintaining sufficient food stock to meet any crisis, and motivated farmers to actively engage in agriculture as a means of livelihood and economic advancement.
He further stressed the need for dedication and hard work to ensure the success of the programme, stating that the overall objective is to empower farmers while creating sustainable economic and employment opportunities in the region.
Delivering the keynote address, DAO Chumoukedima Moainla Pongen, stated that the programme marks the beginning of an economic transformation for the region, with a focus on reducing India’s dependency on imported palm oil.
She pointed out that the country currently imports nearly 60 percent of its domestic requirement, resulting in significant annual expenditure, and emphasised that the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) seeks to address this gap by creating a self-sustaining ecosystem for production.
She informed that the initiative in Nagaland will primarily cover eight districts, focusing on foothill areas suitable for oil palm cultivation. Addressing concerns surrounding the crop, she clarified that oil palm is a viable and efficient option due to its better root system and comparatively lower water usage than crops like sugarcane.
Additionally, Pongen assured that cultivation would be carried out in a sustainable manner, making use of wastelands while also promoting intercropping practices.
She said that the Department of Agriculture has entered into MoUs with Godrej Agrovet Ltd. and Patanjali foods to ensure assured market linkages for farmers.
She added that Godrej Agrovet has plans to establish custom hiring centres at Doyapur, a one-stop solution centre, and a nursery at Dhansiripar to support farmers in the cultivation process.
She further assured that the government is fully committed to the success of the initiative by providing free saplings, ensuring remunerative prices for produce, facilitating inter-company coordination, and extending financial and field-level assistance to farmers.
She called for active collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, farmers, and the government to make the mission a success and encouraged all stakeholders to actively participate in the national oil palm movement.
NMEO-OP is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2021, designed to achieve self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in edible oils. Its primary goal is to significantly increase domestic Crude Palm Oil (CPO) production and expand oil palm cultivation areas to reduce India's heavy reliance on expensive imports.
Short speeches were delivered by Senior Officer, GAVL Dr. Benjongtoshi Imchen and Manager (Market Development, GAVL) Muthuselvan.
The event saw active participation from local farmers and village council members.