CM to inaugurate oil palm factory at Narmeta soon: Minister

HYDERABAD

The palmoil factory being established at Narmeta in Siddipet district would be inaugurated soon by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy following its successful trial run, Minister for Agriculture Tummala Nageswara Rao said at the factory site on Saturday.

Speaking after inspecting the works at the unit, he said it was being set up with most modern technology, which was not available elsewhere in the country, and it would also help Telangana enhance the oilpalm plantation extent enormously in the coming years. The factory is being set up with a cost of ₹300 crore.

The minister said raising oilpalm plantation would help farmers earn income not only from the sale of oilpalm bunches but also with the inter-crops that could be raised throughout the year. The factory would not only extract oil from the oilpalm fruit but also from its seed. The power required for the factory would also be generated within the unit as a captive power unit would be run with the waste produced from oilpalm bunches processing.

During his interaction with the local farmers of oilpalm, they explained to the minister that payment of transport charges was being delayed. He suggested farmers raise inter-crops such as cocoa, nutmeg (jajikaya), macadamia nuts, drumstick and others to earn income in addition to that from the sale of oilpalm bunches. He stated that the price of oilpalm bunches was at ₹19,107 per tonnes.

The minister stated that minor works in the factory would be completed soon before its inauguration by the Chief Minister.