Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka inaugurated the ₹300-crore Godrej Integrated Palm Oil Industry at Anjanapuram village in Konijerla mandal of Khammam district, alongside Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao and Godrej officials.
Addressing the gathering, Bhatti described oil palm cultivation as a game-changing opportunity for farmers, offering stable and reliable income even during drought and adverse climatic conditions. He said the government is providing subsidies ranging from ₹4,000 to ₹45,000 per acre to encourage cultivation.
Highlighting India’s growing demand for palm oil, he noted that the country requires around 25 lakh metric tonnes annually but produces only about 12 lakh metric tonnes, forcing heavy imports. Expanding domestic production, he said, would reduce import dependence, strengthen the economy, and increase farmers’ incomes.
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that India has the potential to cultivate oil palm on nearly 70 lakh acres, but only around 15 lakh acres are currently under cultivation. He also pointed out that Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) prices have increased from about ₹12,500 per tonne in 2023 to nearly ₹23,000 per tonne, making oil palm an increasingly profitable crop.
Bhatti said the newly inaugurated facility, spread across nearly 113 acres, includes research and development, seed genetics, seed gardens, nurseries, milling, and refining units. He expressed confidence that Konijerla would eventually become a major producer of high-quality oil palm seeds for the entire country instead of relying on imports from Malaysia and Indonesia.
He also assured road connectivity support through the Industrial Infrastructure Corporation and said the project would attract ancillary industries, transforming Khammam into a major agro-based industrial hub.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to farmers, Bhatti recalled that ₹9,000 crore was credited to farmers under the Rythu Bharosa scheme within nine days and urged cultivators to diversify into commercial crops and value-added agriculture for long-term prosperity.