DIMAPUR — A mega oil palm plantation drive was held at the SDAO office in Jalukie on Tuesday. The event, organised by the department of Agriculture, had C Peter Yanthan, Director of Agriculture, as a special guest.
In his keynote address, Soumyadeep Dutta, Manager at NE Godrej Agrovet Private Limited (GAVL), noted that their experience in Nagaland has been one of the most favourable in terms of ease of doing business among the North East states, thanks to excellent support from the department and local farmers.
According to a press release, he informed that GAVL will be establishing two ‘Samadhan centres’, which will serve as one-stop solution centres for all aspects of oil palm, including inputs, on a no-profit, no-loss basis.
He also assured that a mini processing mill would be set up as soon as the required acreage is achieved.
Speaking at the event, the special guest reminded the farmers that the department has engaged the two most trusted players in the oil palm industry to serve the broader interests of oil palm farmers in the state.
Dispelling various misconceptions about oil palm circulating on social media, he emphasised that oil palm cultivation is a highly sustainable and profitable livelihood option. He also highlighted that the buy-back of fresh fruit bunches is a consistent and regular feature of the programme, as pursued by the department.
The programme was chaired by Z Hukhato Sema, Joint Director of Agriculture, and included a brief note on oil palm plantations in the Jalukie sub-division by Mapeuheile Ndang, SDAO, Jalukie.
The distribution of oil palm saplings was carried out by the special guest.