Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Nagaland officials kicked off a Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive on September 1, 2026. The event took place at the Chümoukedima Village Council Hall. This initiative falls under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm for the 2026-27 season. The program aims to bolster local farming and slash India's heavy reliance on imported palm oil from Southeast Asia.
Special guest Shreyansee Jain, SDO (Civil), praised the Department of Agriculture for the project. She noted that oil palm offers a steady revenue stream for decades. "Oil palm as not merely an agricultural crop but a commercial and sustainable crop capable of providing economic returns for 30–35 years," Jain said. She pointed out that while farmers in Niuland, Dimapur, and Dhansiripar are already active, local interest in Chümoukedima remains low.
India currently imports about 140 lakh tonnes of edible oil every year. Officials believe local production can fix this. A new processing unit planned for Ganeshnagar will provide farmers with essential market linkages. DAO Moainla Pongen explained that the government protects growers through fixed pricing mechanisms. Companies like Godrej Agrovet have already signed on to procure Fresh Fruit Bunches.
The math is clear. One hectare holds 143 trees, with each tree potentially generating Rs. 5,000 annually. Pongen urged farmers to plant only what they can manage. Current support includes two nurseries at Niuland and Tizit, with another underway by Godrej Agrovet. Technical approval for a mill at Niuland is also finished. Farmers should inter-crop for the first three years until the palms reach maturity.
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