Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has issued a strong warning to oil palm companies, stating that the government will not tolerate delays or negligence in the state’s ambitious oil palm expansion programme. He directed Agriculture Secretary K. Surendra Mohan to initiate strict action against companies failing to meet their targets.
During a review meeting with oil palm company representatives at the State Secretariat, the minister expressed serious dissatisfaction over the slow pace of plantation. Against this year’s target of 85,000 acres, only 17,090 acres have been covered so far—around 20% of the goal.
The minister said that despite repeated review meetings and multiple notices, several companies have failed to improve their performance. He stressed that while farmers are showing strong interest in oil palm cultivation, companies are lagging behind, which is unacceptable.
Tummala revealed that several companies, including Lohia, Oil Fed, Tirumala, Priyunik, Ram Charan, Godrej, Vishwatej, Cane Bio, Patanjali, Matrix, and Suven Agro, have received repeated notices for poor performance. He warned that companies failing to improve could lose districts under their jurisdiction or even be removed entirely. Performing companies may be allotted additional districts. He also made it clear that Oil Fed, despite being a government organisation, would not receive any special treatment.
The minister instructed companies to ensure there is no shortage of oil palm saplings, even if they need to procure them from other companies. Farmers should receive saplings immediately whenever required.
He also directed companies to strengthen field-level technical support by guiding farmers on cultivation practices, fertiliser use, irrigation, and crop management.
Further, Tummala ordered the speedy completion of oil palm processing units under construction, stating that delays would no longer be accepted. Faster completion of processing facilities will reduce transportation costs for farmers and ensure timely processing of produce