Manipur to host symposium on Oil Palm Cultivation

IMPHAL, Manipur: The Government of Manipur has decided to host a symposium on May 30, to promote the cultivation of oil palm and to create awareness and educate the local population regarding the benefits and importance of the centrally sponsored scheme National Mission for Edible Oil and Oil Palm (NMOOP).

Since the announcement of Centre to promote the cultivation of palm trees in northeastern India, environmentalists and experts have been highlighting the negative implication of the move of the central government. The experts say that palm cultivation will destabilise the ecologically vulnerable and biodiversity hotspots region of north east India.

Till now, 9,67,981 hectares of land in the northeastern region has been identified as a potential location for the cultivation of oil plantation during phase I and phase II of the NMOOP scheme. On 38,922 hectares, the cultivation has already begun. Manipur would be the 22^nd state to implement oil palm cultivation.

MS Khaidem, Consultant Oil Palm, Mission Manipur, has told that the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, has identified a total of 66,652 hectares of land in six districts of Manipur. Namely, Thoubal (18,475 hectares), Imphal West (14,516 hectares), Churachandpur (11,662 hectares), Bishnupur (10,389 hectares), Chandel (6,803 hectares) and Ukhrul (4,808 hectares). Additionally, the state-level standing committee has identified another 7,715 hectares of land in the Jiribam District of Manipur, where Arecanut and Coconut have already been cultivated.