NAHARLAGUN, Nov 29: An audio-visual van was flagged off to create mass awareness about production technology and benefits of oil palm by Agriculture Secretary, Y W Ringu from the Directorate of Agriculture at Naharlagun Wednesday.
The van will move around in potential areas of oil palm to sensitize and develop skills of the growers through audio-visual aid on the principle of seeing is believing, said Dr P Malleshan, Corporate Head of Oil Palm division of Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd.
The Agriculture Secretary advised officials of the Agriculture Department to spread the message about benefits of oil palm cultivation, which is in contract farming mode with buy-back assurance.
The state government has initiated oil palm cultivation through private oil palm developers in the foothills areas of the state, with a target of 20000 ha area by 2022.
The audio-visual van is a part of extension activities by M/s Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd in Andhra Pradesh, which is expanding area under oil palm in East Siang, West Siang, Lower Subansiri, Papum Pare and foot hill areas of East Kameng and West Kameng districts as per the MoU signed with the state government.
