Gorubanda, July 4: A Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) under the National Mission on Edible Oil–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) was inaugurated at Gorubanda in Papum Pare district on Friday, aimed at supporting oil palm farmers with access to farm machinery and tools at nominal rates.
The facility was inaugurated by Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Dairy Development minister Gabriel Wangsu. The CHC is expected to provide tractors and modern agricultural equipment to farmers, easing large-scale cultivation. The initiative is being implemented through agreements between the agriculture department and farmer groups, with provisions for revocation in case of non-compliance.
Addressing the gathering, Wangsu reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting oil palm as a flagship crop. He termed oil palm cultivation a national priority and highlighted Arunachal Pradesh’s target of bringing 40,000 hectares under cultivation during the current financial year. He said over 50 per cent of the planned area has already been planted.
The minister also stressed the need for consistent cultivation of identified crops with support systems including sapling distribution, technical guidance, and subsidies for inputs and irrigation. He urged stakeholders—including farmers, youth, and industry partners—to collaborate and treat the mission as both an economic opportunity and a national obligation.
Wangsu called upon Patanjali Foods Pvt. Ltd., the designated oil palm developer and processor for the region, to ensure transparency in the supply of planting materials and to take greater responsibility in capacity building for farmers. He also encouraged farmers to monitor implementation and report deficiencies to maintain accountability.
Responding to a memorandum from the All Arunachal Pradesh Oil Palm Farmers’ Association seeking support for an office-cum-training centre, harvesting infrastructure, and fencing materials, the minister assured to examine the requests.
Agriculture secretary Samuel Changkija described the mission as an opportunity for long-term agricultural and economic transformation and emphasised the need to translate the central mission into a state-driven initiative.
Papum Pare deputy commissioner Vishakha Yadav noted that India spends over Rs 40,000 crore annually on palm oil imports and called for scaling up domestic production to reduce dependency. She assured continued administrative support to farmers.
Director of agriculture and state nodal officer TD Neckom traced the beginnings of oil palm cultivation in the state to feasibility studies initiated in 2013, and said this is the first time structured market linkages have been established for the crop.
Zilla parishad chairperson Nabam Yakum encouraged women to take leadership roles in oil palm cultivation and nursery management, citing the central role of women in agriculture.
Progressive farmer Nabam Sango shared his experience, citing the consistent harvest and income potential of the crop. His June harvest alone yielded 20,000 kg, he said.
Representatives from Patanjali Foods Pvt. Ltd. and the agriculture department also addressed the event.
Earlier in the day, the minister led a mass oil palm plantation drive and flagged off a tractor procured under the NMEO-OP scheme for the CHC.
