Oct 6, 2020
Arunachal Pradesh had entered in MoUs with three companies – Siva Sai, 3F and Ruchi Soya for setting up oil extraction factories and buy back oil palm fruits from farmers under the scheme.
The three companies – Siva Sai, 3F and Ruchi Soya plan to set up oil extraction factories and buy back oil palm fruits from farmers under the scheme. While several farmers will be harvesting for the first time this year, the companies are yet to establish the assured infrastructure.
Also a detailed discussion was also held on Oil Palm Cultivation, which is central scheme under the National Food Security Mission.
Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu has directed the Secretary to take up with the company authorities and the concerned deputy commissioners urgently. He said as has been proved that the oil palm grown in the state are of top quality, the scheme should be prioritized.
He said, “Agriculture is the backbone of our society. Implementation of agri and allied sector schemes are time bound and seasonal, delay in release of state share of funds should be avoided”.
We cannot wait for lengthy procedures to release the state shares for centrally sponsored schemes under agri-horti and allied sectors. It shouldn’t happen that by the time state shares are released and schemes are ready to be implemented, the season for the same is over,” he remarked.The newly passed farm legislation – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill – and its impact on Arunachal Pradesh were also discussed at length.
Khandu said the farm laws will help farmers augment their income in contradiction to opposition theories.
According to the Secretary Agriculture and Horticulture, Arunachal Pradesh will have zero impact as one of the Acts does away with mandis, wherein farmers sell their products through middlemen, as mandi system is non-existent in the state.