Bhubaneswar: In a significant push to boost Odisha’s edible oil production and agro-industrial landscape, Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Directorate of Horticulture with three major oil palm companies to initiate large-scale plantations across four districts.
The agreement, signed under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), will see oil palm cultivation expand into Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, and Cuttack districts. The partnering companies include Patanjali Foods Limited (Cuttack), Tumfala Agro Products Private Limited (Angul), and Liv Palm Resources Private Limited (Dhenkanal and Jajpur).
Welcoming the company representatives at the MoU signing ceremony, Deputy CM Singh Deo expressed optimism that this collaboration would open a new chapter in Odisha’s agricultural and industrial growth. He highlighted that the project would ensure better market prices for farmers, create rural employment opportunities, and contribute to increased edible oil production, ultimately improving the socio-economic condition of farming communities.
“This MoU will not only strengthen oil palm cultivation in Odisha but also attract fresh investments, empower farmers, and create a favorable environment for agri-based industries,” Singh Deo stated.
Company representatives affirmed their commitment to leveraging modern technologies and innovations to tap into Odisha’s immense potential in the oil palm sector.
The event was attended by top officials, including Dr. Arabinda Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture, Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, Director of Horticulture, and other senior department functionaries.
