New Delhi: Godrej Agrovet (GAVL) recently announced plans to set up an oil palm processing mill in Tripura’s Dhalai district, where the company already operates a nursery with a capacity of 300,000 plants per year, aiming to increase it to 500,000 plants per year. Additionally, GAVL will establish an advanced research & development centre for oil palm and a Samadhan centre, a comprehensive support hub for oil palm farmers.
The ceremony was inaugurated by Ratan Lal Nath, Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Govt. of Tripura, and attended by Dr. Harikrishna Kulaveerasingam, Head of Research & Development at SD Guthrie Plantations, Malaysia, who will guide the company in developing high-yield, sustainable oil palm varieties locally.
Following the launch of the National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in August 2021, the Tripura government plans to cultivate at least 7,000 hectares of land with oil palm. Ratan Lal Nath emphasised the state’s commitment to creating a beneficial ecosystem for oil palm farmers, expressing excitement about partnering with Godrej Agrovet to enhance the sector’s potential.
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During the announcement of the oil palm processing mill, Balram Singh Yadav, Managing Director of Godrej Agrovet, expressed gratitude for the Tripura government’s support, noting that the new initiatives would help farmers sell their produce locally, generate employment, and promote businesses throughout the oil palm value chain. He highlighted the company’s goal of reducing dependency on oil palm imports by leveraging its expertise and the state’s support.
Sougata Niyogi, CEO of the Oil Palm Plantation Business at Godrej Agrovet, emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainability, announcing the establishment of an advanced R&D centre to develop seeds suited to local climatic conditions. The centre aims to promote sustainable practices and innovations that can be applied nationwide.
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The ceremony was attended by Bhaba Ranjan Reang, Executive Member of Agriculture at Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council; Paul Dangshu, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Karamcherra; Sambhu Lal Chakma, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Chawmanu; Bimal Kanti Chakma, MDC, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council; Apurba Roy, Secretary of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura; and Pranoy Debbarma, Vice-Chairman of Manu Block.
Godrej Agrovet, a leading diversified food and agribusiness conglomerate in India, aims to expand oil palm plantations to 120,000 hectares by 2027. To support long-term sustainable development, the company launched Samadhan centres last year, which aim to support the planting of 2,000 hectares of oil palm and provide farmers with state-of-the-art agricultural practices and expert guidance. The company’s partnership with the State Bank of India will also support farmers during the gestation period. Through these initiatives, GAVL intends to increase the area under oil palm cultivation in Tripura to 10,000 hectares by 2027.
