With the demand for edible oil inAndhra Pradeshand neighbouring states increasing, the area under oil palm cultivation in the state will increase to over 3.17 lakh hectares in the coming four to five years with a target of over 25,000 hectares every year.
The has drafted an action plan to increase the oil palm cultivation by replacing paddy, tobacco, subadul, casuarina, and eucalyptus to benefit the farmers. Speaking to TOI, additional director of Horticulture, KBalaji Nayak, said AP stands in first position in oil palm cultivation with 1.81 lakh hectares, and 1.32 lakh farmers in eight districts spread over 229 mandals.
The consumption of palm oil has increased by 10 to 15 per cent in the state in the past few years due to various reasons including the edible oil crisis due to Russia-Ukraine conflict. The consumption may further increase in the coming days. Not only the middle class but the upper middle-class families are also consuming the palm oil in the state.
The Union Government introduced National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm(NMEO-OP) scheme to encourage oil palm on large scale which they wanted to fully tap for the benefit of farmers. Under oil palm mission, an area of 1.36 lakh hectares is proposed to be covered in the state.