Pasighat, May 20: A three-day national interactive workshop on “Strategic Solutions for Rapid Development of Oil Palm under NMEO-OP in the Northeast: Formulating a Roadmap to Achieve Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 in Vegetable Oils through Oil Palm” has commenced on Tuesday at the College of Horticulture and Forestry (CHF), CAU (Imphal), Pasighat.
The workshop has been jointly organized by CHF Pasighat, SOPOPRAD, ICAR-IIOPR, Pedavegi, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India, and oil palm processing companies operating in the Northeastern region.
The workshop focuses on strategic approaches for rapid expansion of oil palm cultivation in the Northeastern Hill (NEH) region under the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) and on formulating a roadmap for achieving self-reliance in vegetable oil production under the vision of Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Inaugurating the workshop, Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering emphasized the economic potential of oil palm cultivation in generating employment and improving rural livelihoods.
Organizing chairman and Dean, CHF, Prof L Wangchu, while delivering the welcome address, highlighted the importance of oil palm cultivation in enhancing farmers’ income and strengthening the agricultural economy of the Northeast.
Organizing co-chairman and Dean, College of Agriculture, Prof Sanjay Swami, emphasized the need for scientific interventions and coordinated efforts for sustainable oil palm development.
Dr P Rethinam, President, SOPOPRAD, deliberated on the strategic role of oil palm in achieving vegetable oil self-sufficiency in India. Distinguished guests of honour - Dr KUK Nampoothiri, Dr S Arulraj, and Dr BA Jerard also stressed the importance of collaborative research and industrial support for oil palm development in the Northeast.
Publications related to oil palm development were released and appreciation certificates from SOPOPRAD distributed to oil palm processing companies for their contribution to the sector. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof Barun Singh, head, Dept of Fruit Science, CHF, Pasighat followed by the National Anthem.
Technical sessions covered the status of oil palm cultivation in NE states, opportunities and challenges in oil palm development and processing, and future research thrust areas for the NEH region. Representatives from Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, and Nagaland presented the progress and prospects of oil palm cultivation in their respective states, while industry representatives from Patanjali Foods Ltd, Godrej Agrovet Ltd, 3F Oil Palm, and Kye Oils shared their experiences on processing and market opportunities.
The three-day workshop also includes plenary discussions, cultural programmes, field visits to farmers’ fields, and exposure visits to oil palm processing units. The deliberations and recommendations emerging from the workshop are expected to contribute significantly toward strengthening the implementation of NMEO-OP and promoting sustainable oil palm development in the NE region.