PASIGHAT, Oct 6: During his tour to the oldest administrative town, State Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik today visited the 4-hectare oil palm farm owned by progressive farmer Miti Megu Perme at Bosi Didum village near Pasighat, and interacted with Perme, local farmers, and departmental officials to gain first-hand insights into the farm’s operations.
The Governor emphasized that oil palm cultivation is not merely an agricultural pursuit but a vision for economic growth, farmer empowerment, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Highlighting India’s heavy dependence on edible oil imports, he said promoting oil palm is a strategic step towards reducing import dependency, strengthening the rural economy, and ensuring price stability. He noted that Arunachal Pradesh, with its fertile soil, favorable climate, and abundant rainfall, holds vast potential for oil palm cultivation.
“For our farmers, oil palm ensures steady income, long-term security, and better returns compared to most other oilseeds. It also opens avenues for agro-based industries, employment generation, and infrastructure growth,” he said.
The Governor lauded the State Government for prioritizing oil palm as a key driver of rural development and national self-reliance.
Sharing recent progress, the Governor informed that the State produced over 5.19 lakh metric tons of food grains, nearly 15,000 metric tons of pulses, and over 39,000 metric tons of oilseeds last year. He added that 15 soil testing laboratories have been established, and over 1.3 lakh soil health cards issued. Oil palm cultivation has already expanded to 4,690 hectares, benefiting nearly 2,000 farmers under the Per Drop More Crop scheme.
Looking ahead, the Governor said Arunachal Pradesh aims to bring 35,723 hectares under oil palm cultivation by 2025-26. The establishment of the country’s first crude palm oil mill at Roing and another factory coming up at the Industrial Growth Centre, Niglok, he said, are further boosting farmer confidence and ensuring sufficient processing capacity.
Sharing her experience, Perme said her farm, established in 2017, began harvesting in 2021. “Palm oil is harvested three to four times a month, yielding two to three tonnes per harvest,” she shared, adding that the new factory at Niglok has provided a strong and steady market for local producers.
Deputy Commissioner Sonalika Jiwani highlighted that oil palm cultivation is emerging as a highly remunerative and sustainable source of income, capable of significantly boosting the local economy. MLAs Ninong Ering and Tapi Darang, district SP Pankaj Lamba, and District Agriculture Officer Opang Moyong were also present during the Governor’s visit.