Comments
The Karnataka government wants to bring 2,000 hectares of additional area under oil palm cultivation during 2015-16, according to HS Shiva Kumar, Additional Director of Horticulture (Oil Palm Development Programme), Karnataka.
He told BusinessLine that the commercial cultivation of oil palm began in Karnataka during 90s. At present, around 10,000 farmers in 23 districts have taken up oil palm cultivation on an area of around 11,000 hectares. Karnataka is producing around 13,000 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs). These bunches are being processed to produce about 2,240 tonnes of crude palm oil.
Of the additional 2,000 hectares targeted for oil palm cultivation during 2015-16, the department has targeted 260 hectares each in Davangere, Ballari and Haveri districts; 160 hectares in Hassan; 115 hectares in Mysuru; 105 hectares each in Gadag, Bidar and Kodagu districts; 95 hectares in Mandya; 80 hectares each in Koppal and Bagalkot; 55 hectares each in Shivamogga, Chamrajanagar and Belagavi districts; 50 hectares in Raichur; 30 hectares each in Vijayapura, Chikmagaluru and Udupi; 25 hectares each in Dakshina Kannada and Yadgiri districts; and 20 hectares in Dharwad district.
Govt assistanceHe said that both State and Central governments are providing financial support for oil palm cultivation in the ratio of 50:50. To encourage farmers to take up oil palm cultivation, the State and Central governments have allocated ₹5.59 crore for 2015-16.
He said that the oil palm growers are being extended cultivation assistance for the first four years of gestation period at the rate of ₹4,000 per hectare a year. The farmers who take up oil palm area expansion are being given the planting material assistance at the rate of 85 per cent of the cost of seedlings with a maximum limit of ₹8,000 per hectare.
On the area expansion, Shiva Kumar said the project is being implemented through public-private partnership mode. Five companies have been allotted specific districts for overall oil palm developmental activities in the State.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.