Dignitaries at the workshop on sustainable oil palm cultivation on May 23.
Kohima, May 23 (MExN): A one day workshop on sustainable oil palm cultivation in Nagaland, challenges and opportunities was held at Agri-Expo Chümoukedima on May 23.
The workshop was organised to create awareness on scientific research and facts on oil palm cultivation aspects by engaging resource Institute from ICAR Indian Institute of Oil Palm Resource and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Northeast.
In the workshop, Resource persons Ashwin Selvaraj Deputy Director, Market Transformation, and Head of the India & China Region, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Dr K Manorama Principal Scientist, Agronomy, ICAR Indian Institute of Oil Palm Resource (IIOPR, Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh) addressed on the Importance of sustainable oil palm plantations (Conceptual clarity) and contextual comparison between SE Asia and India, best practices on environmental management adopted in sustainable palm oil plantations and on palm in Northeast India: Myths, Realities and Sustainable Pathways.
Sanuzo Nienu, Director of Agriculture also highlighted that the State has targeted 15000 Ha for five years 2021-22 to 2025-26 for the cultivation of Oil palm in a cluster approach in a sustainable manner in the hugely potential foothill areas of the State without disturbing the natural forest including bio-diversity with two Zoning; Zone I: Peren, Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Niuland & Wokha and Zone II:
Mokokchung, Longleng & Mon, without disturbing the natural forest including bio-diversity wherein a regulatory framework of Oil Palm Act will also be planned out300 Km will be a lifeline for connectivity and can cover more cultivable area.
As per record, the State has covered 6053 ha spread across the State, out of which 1126.91 ha area are fruit-bearing stage.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the State Government, and Godrej Agrovet Private Limited (GAVL) during January 2023 for the development and area expansion under oil palm cultivation and processing for Zone-I (Peren, Chumoukedima, Dimapur, Niuland and Wokha districts) and Patanjali Foods Ltd (Formerly known as Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd for Zone-II (Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts) in the State of Nagaland under National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).
It is the burning desire of the State to create employment opportunities. The cultivation of oil palm as a high value crop with higher economic returns per hectare with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) offered by Gol under (NMEO-OP) would therefore be a boon to the subsistence farmers in comparison to growing other oilseed and plantation crops.
Two nursery has been established-one at Tuli and the other at Niuland. Another two nurseries are in the process of being set up-at Tizit and Chümoukedima and till today buy back of around 200 M.T of FFBs has been completed by both the Implementing partner.
He also highlighted that it has covered around 630 hectares of plantation during 2024-25 And a Plantations for 2025-26 has commenced from the month of May.
In the workshop the scientific facts of Oil cultivation context was highlighted by Deputy Director of Agriculture Renchamo Kikon.
The programme was chaired by Z Hukhato Sema Joint Director of Agriculture.
