Itanagar: In a significant development for India’s agricultural sector, 3F Oil Palm, one of the country’s largest Oil Palm development companies, has initiated commercial operations at India’s first integrated Oil Palm Processing Unit in Arunachal Pradesh.
Situated in Roing, the headquarters of Lower Dibang Valley district, this unit marks a crucial step towards achieving self-reliance in edible oils, driven by the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).
The integrated Oil Palm project includes a cutting-edge oil palm factory for processing and refining, a zero-discharge effluent plant, a palm waste-based power plant, and additional structures for support.
This factory is the first of its kind in Arunachal and the first in India under NMEO-OP.
The inauguration of the unit was conducted virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 09 last, signalling the start of a transformative journey.
During the Viksit Bharat – Viksit Northeast event in Itanagar, the Prime Minister underscored the government’s focus on Mission Palm Oil, particularly in the Northeast, aiming not only for self-sufficiency but also to empower farmers and enhance their income.
Speaking at the inaugural event, Managing Director and CEO 3F Oil Palm Pvt Limited, Sanjay Goenka, highlighted the significance of palm oil in ensuring food security, noting that India currently imports 96% of its required palm oil.
He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his vision and the support of the Arunachal Pradesh government.
Arunachal has identified 1,30,000 hectares of land suitable for Oil Palm cultivation, with the Northeast region alone accounting for 33% of the potential area.
However, only 4% of this potential has been utilized so far, highlighting the immense growth opportunity in the region.
3F Oil Palm’s processing unit is designed to process fresh fruit bunches into high-quality palm oil at a capacity of 10 metric tons per hour.
With a farmer base of 500 farmers currently cultivating 2,500 hectares of oil palm, the company is a leader in the state’s oil palm development program.
The company’s innovative approach includes Farmer Excellence Centres, providing various agricultural services, and technology-driven operations supported by proprietary software and mobile apps. Additionally, 3F Oil Palm is the first company to import high-quality hybrid variety seed sprouts and provide agricultural inputs to farmers in Arunachal Pradesh.
