Lilizandi to the Centre's Rs 11,000 crore palm mission

Following the announcement made by Prime Minister Modi on Independence Day

The Cabinet Committee has set aside Rs. 77 crore sanctioned

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday set a target of reducing imports from abroad by becoming self-sufficient in palm oil by growing palm trees in the country in the next five years. 11,040 crore National Mission on Edible Oil was given the green light. In addition, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Rs. 77.45 crore package was also approved.

The decision to approve the Palm Mission was taken at a cabinet meeting after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the new central plans in his speech from the Red Fort on August 15. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the decision was taken especially with the northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in mind.

Approved for Palm Mission Rs. 11040 crore out of which Rs. 8844 crore will be provided by the central government while the remaining Rs. 2196 crore will be provided by the states. The mission also includes provision for loans for palm tree cultivation and other processes involved in oil production, he said.

Following the announcement of the Palm Mission, the ongoing National Food Security Mission-Oil Palm Program will also be included. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that under the new scheme, 6.5 lakh hectares of land in the country would be covered for palm cultivation in the next five years, while a total of one lakh hectares would be covered in subsequent years.