The Central Government is planning to make major interventions in whic

The Central Government is planning to make major interventions in which one of the following regions of India to make it an oil palm hub?

Coromandel Coast
North-Eastern States
Rayalaseema
Saurashtra
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2022
The correct answer is North-Eastern States.
India is one of the world’s largest importers of edible oils, including palm oil. To reduce dependence on imports and boost domestic production, the Indian government launched the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). This mission specifically focuses on increasing the area under oil palm cultivation and productivity in certain regions of India with suitable climatic conditions. The North-Eastern States and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands have been identified as having significant potential for oil palm cultivation due to their high rainfall and favourable temperatures. The mission aims to achieve a substantial increase in oil palm production primarily by expanding cultivation in these regions.
While oil palm is also cultivated in other parts of India like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, the NMEO-OP targets a major expansion in the Northeast and Andaman & Nicobar Islands to significantly boost domestic production. The other regions listed (Coromandel Coast, Rayalaseema, Saurashtra) are either not the primary focus for this major intervention (Coromandel Coast), or are less suitable for extensive oil palm cultivation without significant irrigation (Rayalaseema, Saurashtra).