A Growing National Movement<\/strong> Expansion Across Chhattisgarh<\/strong> Success Stories and Farmer Experiences<\/strong> Strong Support and Assured Returns<\/strong> Once in production, a hectare can yield 15\u201320 tonnes of fruit annually, ensuring steady income. Farmers can also grow vegetables or other intercrops between palm rows, with additional subsidies provided for these activities. For farmers planting more than two hectares, a further \u20b950,000 subsidy is available for borewell installation.<\/p>\n Market Linkages and Payment Security<\/strong> With long-term yields, stable market arrangements, and substantial financial support, palm cultivation in Chhattisgarh is not only transforming farm economics but also strengthening India\u2019s journey toward self-reliance in edible oil production.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" State and Centre offer financial assistance; yields promise annual earnings of \u20b92.5\u20133 lakh per hectare for up to 30 years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116,118,475,117],"tags":[476],"class_list":["post-2946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-chhattishgarh","category-special-story","category-state","tag-palm-cultivation"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nNationwide, palm is cultivated over 3.5 lakh hectares, with the Union Agriculture Ministry reporting a 15% rise in domestic palm oil production in 2024\u201325. The government aims to raise production to 28 lakh tonnes by 2029\u201330, targeting states like Telangana, Assam, Mizoram, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Special emphasis is being placed on tribal-dominated regions such as Bastar and Dantewada, where palm cultivation is seen as a means of generating employment and improving rural incomes.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thefrontpage24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2ebb3d1d-fd2a-4014-8bce-4b2e1bc1fdc2-1024x710.jpeg\")
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\nUnder the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam, palm cultivation has expanded to 17 districts, including Bastar, Kondagaon, Kanker, Sukma, Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada, Mahasamund, Raigarh, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Durg, Bemetara, Jashpur, Surguja, Korba, and Bilaspur. Over the past four years, 1,600 hectares have been planted with oil palm by 1,150 farmers, while this year alone saw 1,089 hectares planted by 802 farmers.<\/p>\n
\nRaigarh farmer Rajendra Mehar transformed 10 acres of idle land into a thriving palm plantation with 570 plants, thanks to guidance and support from the Horticulture Department. \u201cI was considering horticulture for years, but lacked technical know-how,\u201d Mehar said. \u201cThe department not only provided knowledge but also showed me the long-term benefits of palm cultivation.\u201d In Mahasamund district alone, palm plantations now span 611 hectares.<\/p>\n
\nUnder the Oil Palm Scheme, 143 plants valued at \u20b929,000 per hectare are provided free of cost. The total cost of establishing the plantation\u2014including fencing, irrigation, maintenance, and intercropping\u2014is about \u20b94 lakh per hectare, covered through government grants and bank loans. Subsidies are available for orchard maintenance, drip irrigation, borewells, pumps, vermicompost units, harvesting tools, and more.<\/p>\n
\nThe Government of India has partnered with contracted companies to purchase palm produce directly from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Payments are credited directly to farmers\u2019 bank accounts, eliminating market uncertainty and ensuring timely income.<\/p>\n