TEZU, 28 Jun: Progressive farmers and extension field functionaries under the NMEO-OP participated in a district-level awareness programme on oil palm cultivation, organised here by the Lohit district administration on Thursday.
Addressing the participants, Agriculture Commissioner Bidol Tayeng, who along with Deputy Commissioner Shashvat Saurabh attended the programme as guests, said that Lohit has huge potential for oil palm cultivation in terms of geographical location, climate and topography.
He also provided clarification with regard to the opposition to oil palm cultivation, and told the participants that “it’s totally safe to cultivate oil palm.”
Tayeng requested the district agriculture officer (DAO) to take farmers on exposure tours, so that they can obtain firsthand understanding of the nuances and benefits of cultivation of oil palm.
“Oil palm cultivation will ameliorate the economic status of the farmers,” he added.
The DC in his address said that there is a need to increase the area under oil palm cultivation in the district, while SNO (oil palm) TD Nekhom presented an overview of the status of oil palm cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh.
DAO N Sumyan also spoke.
Technical sessions on importance and prospects of oil palm cultivation, packaging, etc, were held as part of the programme.
Among others, ZPC Dasalu Krisikro, Tezu ZPM Balong Tindya, Sunpura ZPM Angenlu Minin Chaitom, and HoDs attended the programme. (DIPRO)
