The Prime Minister's vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat will now be realised, and mega oil palm plantations will be established throughout India. India used to import palm oil from nations like Malaysia and Indonesia. It is important to note that importing oil palm costs more than 1.5 lakh crore rupees; nevertheless, if this product could be grown in India, the farmers would gain significantly.
On August 8, 2023, a massive palm oil plantation project began in Assam's Tinsukia district. In collaboration with Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Group, this oil palm plantation would take place in 18 districts of Assam.
The oil palm plantation, however, has also generated criticism. Many scientists in the nation have also raised concerns about how this cultivation may affect the fertility of agricultural land. In contrast, Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora denied the drawbacks of oil palm plantations in answer to a query posed in this respect by journalist Prashant Rajguru in a recent interview. The state's chief minister, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, is also extremely hopeful about the oil palm plantation that would be carried out over 3.75 lakh hectares of land.
The claim that growing palm oil would lower the level of ground water was denied by the chief minister. CM Sharma asserts that oil palm growers will receive more money than small-scale tea growers.
Baba Ramdev while starting Oil palm Plantation, in Tinisukia has also commented that farmers of India will get Rs 5000 crore Rupees in the coming 5 years from Patanjali. Overall, the oil palm plantation has evoked mixed reactions across the country as well as in Assam.
