In a remarkable step toward agricultural self-reliance, Arunachal Pradesh launched a Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive in the Lower Dibang Valley district on Saturday, drawing attention to the region’s growing role in India’s edible oil ecosystem. The event, held at Aara-Camp in Abali near Roing, brought together farmers, officials, and leaders in a collective push to promote sustainable oil palm cultivation under the central government’s National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). The plantation drive was spearheaded by Gabriel D Wangsu, Minister of Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary, Fisheries & Allied Sectors of Arunachal Pradesh, who praised the initiative as a model for sustainable rural development. The event was jointly organised by 3F Oil Palm, one of India’s leading agri-business companies, and the District Agriculture Office, Roing. Themed ‘Sowing for a Better Future’, the programme underscored the government’s dedication to long-term agricultural resilience and economic empowerment.
Addressing a large gathering of farmers and local officials, Minister Wangsu expressed optimism over the rapid growth of oil palm cultivation in the state. “We are witnessing success stories that prove how this crop can transform the rural economy. The achievements of our local farmers should inspire communities across the state to adopt oil palm cultivation, not just for profit but as a way of contributing to the nation’s goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said. The Minister also highlighted the state’s early success under the NMEO-OP scheme, with Arunachal Pradesh having already set up two oil palm processing factories—an achievement that places it at the forefront of India’s edible oil self-sufficiency campaign. He emphasised that such infrastructure development, combined with scientific farming techniques and government support, is key to reducing the country’s dependence on imported edible oils.
Oil palm, a high-yielding crop with strong commercial value, has been identified as a strategic agricultural product by the Indian government due to the country’s heavy reliance on imports to meet its domestic edible oil needs. With abundant land and favorable climatic conditions, regions like Lower Dibang Valley are being developed as cultivation hubs to meet this national objective.
