ITDA to undertake oilpalm cultivation

PARVATHIPURAM (VIZIANAGARAM): With the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) deciding to go for oilpalm cultivation for the first time in the State, the tribal welfare department has started identifying the potential places in agency areas of the district.After the Union Government agreed to sanction Rs 100 crore for oilpalm cultivation in the country, the State Government is planning to cultivate the crop in 40,000 hectares.The ITDA officials have targeted eight sub-plan mandals in the district for cultivation of oil palm in 200 acres.The tribal welfare department has already identified 160 acres in Salur, Pachipenta, Makkuva and Komarada Mandals while the remaining 40 acres are being identified in Jiyyammavalasa, Gummalaxmipuram and Kurupam mandals.The ITDA will provide borewells with free power connection to the farmers for the crop. The project will be taken up under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in collaboration with the Horticulture department and Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) under supervision of the horticulture wing of ITDA. The project officer of ITDA, GS Panda Das said farmers would get good returns by growing oilpalm. Financial assistance would be extended by the ITDA which is also creating awareness among the tribals to opt for cultivation of oil palm.Assistant Director of Horticulture Saibaba said about Rs 60,000 can be earned by a farmer in a year from oilpalm and inter-crops.Banana, vegetables and pineapple can be taken up as inter-crop. He said ideally, 57 saplings of oilpalm have to be planted in an acre with 9 metres of space between each plant in a triangular shape.Saibaba said oilpalm plants can withstand natural disasters like cyclone and flood and need not require much care after three years of growth. The government would provide Minimum Support Price of Rs 6,500 per ton so that the farmers would not incur loss, he added.CEO of Laxmi Balajee Oil Mill D Jagadeeswara Rao said his company would distribute saplings free of cost while representatives would give technical support.He said at present as the palm oil production was unable to meet the demand.