Collector highlights potential of oil palm cultivation in Chittoor district

District Collector Sumit Kumar highlighted the potential of oil palm cultivation in the eastern mandals to provide economic viability to farmers. He directed the officials of the Horticulture and Agriculture departments to create awareness programmes among the farmers of the region through Rythu Sadhikara Kendrams (RSKs).

The Collector was addressing a review meeting with the officials of the various departments at the Collectorate, here on Wednesday. Mr. Sumit Kumar envisaged plans to expand the area of oil palm cultivation across the district, though its predominant presence was presently limited to Kareti Nagaram, Nindra, Vijayapuram, and Nagari mandals.

He said that apart from sugarcane cultivation, which is the predominant crop in the region, oil palm farming could also prove to be a profitable alternative for the farmers due to its lower input costs and minimal crop loss.

“We all know the high demand for edible oils in the markets. Oil palm farming will be a definite income-generating crop for farmers in Chittoor. We have a very congenial climate for this crop in Karvetinagaram, G.D. Nellore, Nindra, Nagari, Vijayapuram, and S.R. Puram. The field staff of the Agriculture and Horticulture departments should explore the possibility of expanding the crop all over the district,” the Collector said.

The Collector said that some of the noted companies of edible oils had already identified appropriate cultivation zones in Chittoor. Mr. Sumit Kumar informed the officials to encourage farmers to extensively go in for oil palm cultivation as a good alternative to traditional crops like sugarcane and mango.

The Collector said that the farmers should be informed about crop marketing strategies and periodical awareness sessions should be held involving scientists. “The interested farmers should be supplied with quality saplings, along with subsidies for drip irrigation systems, apart from pump sets, fertilizers, and farm equipment through the State and Central government schemes,” he said.