By Patanjali Foods in Tinsukia, Assam Oil Palm Mega Plantation Drive

  8 August 2023, an unprecedented change in the history of oil palm began in the North Eastern states of India. Patanjali Foods Limited (formerly known as Ruchi Soya Industries Limited) participated in the 'Oil Palm Mega Plantation Drive' organized by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Assam in Tinsukia district.

Honorable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi ji increased the scope of opportunities by expanding the cultivation of palm oil (the crop with the highest oil yield) in India. In this, special attention was given to the North-Eastern states. Launched National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in August 2021. NMEO with the continued success of the OP, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had launched a 'National Level Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive' from July 25 to August 5, 2023, to focus and motivate the farming community for Oil Palm.

Palm plantation on 64 thousand hectares

Being one of the largest oil palm plantation companies by weight with palm plantation area in excess of 64,000 hectares, Patanjali Foods Limited (PFL) participated in the Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drive organized in collaboration with the respective State Governments. This campaign is being implemented in 6 states of India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Nagaland) were conducted in the allotted 13 districts and 14 blocks. The tree plantation drive also included formal tree plantation in an area of over 20 hectares by distributing around 3,000 saplings on the respective dates of the event by the honorable chief guests and other dignitaries. During the 9-day plantation period (25 July to 5 August 2023), a total area of over 1,200 hectares was planted with over 1.80 lakh saplings distributed to over 800 farmers from 6 states (including 3 North Eastern states).

Marking the success of the massive plantation drive, Patanjali Foods participated in the 'Oil Palm Mega Plantation Drive' event in Tinsukia district on 8th August 2023. Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam, and Hon'ble Minister of Agriculture and Horticulture, Govt. of Assam were also present in this mega event in the august presence of Param Pujya Swami Ramdev Ji as Chief Guest. Hon'ble MP, Hon'ble MLA and District Commissioner of Tinsukia district were also present in this programme. Other attendees included prominent persons from the concerned departments of Revenue, Forest Environment, P&RD, KVKs and AAU.
Mega tree plantation drive was undertaken with formal planting of over 1 hectare area in farmers' field by Hon'ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Assam, Param Pujya Swami Ramdev Ji and other dignitaries/VIPs in a cordial gathering of about 4,500 farmers. A total area of 20 hectares was covered under the plantation drive by distributing more than 2,800 saplings to 25 identified farmers of the district.
Keeping in view the huge potential of Oil Palm in Assam and following its commitment through MoU with the State Governments, Patanjali Foods Limited (PFL) is committed to uplift the socio-economic status of the farmers and to promote food production in the country. To increase the availability of oils, the State is making all out efforts to promote oil palm cultivation. The company has been allotted 7 districts for development of oil palm plantations in the state of Assam which include Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup (Rural & Metro) and Goalpara.
With its strong implementation of oil palm plantation development, Patanjali Foods Ltd. has five mills with a capacity of 155 MT per hour and the company is providing services to farmers annually purchases about 5.0 to 6.00 Lakh MT of fresh fruit bunches. It is estimated to cover an area of more than 2.50 lakh hectares in 12 states (including 5 north-eastern states) of India by 2027-28. This development in oil palm plantation strengthens Patanjali Foods' position as an integrated edible oil company in the country, and also towards the long term goal of reducing dependence on edible oil imports and realizing the ideal of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' It's a big step.

Speech of Pujya Swami Ji Maharaj

Today we have come here to talk about industry along with yoga and I am very proud that the most revolutionary Chief Minister of the country is from Assam. I congratulate them wholeheartedly. Respected Chief Minister has set new records in every field ranging from cultural prosperity, farmers, soldiers, health, education, agriculture, industry and has created new dimensions of prosperity in the state. He has become a national symbol with his good deeds. On behalf of Patanjali Yogpeeth, I heartily congratulate Shri Hemant Bishwa Sharma, a great pioneer of Bharat Sanatan culture.

I want to say two-three basic things, India earns one lakh rupees every year gives money to foreign countries for palm oil more than crores of rupees, due to which our foreign exchange is losing one lakh crore rupees every year. Now, if we continue to engage in it gradually in the coming 10-20 years, then we can save more than 50% of it now and if we continue to engage in it continuously, we can save 100% of this economic loss of the country.
Presently Patanjali is doing palm plantation work in 1.5 lakh acres within 7 districts. For this, 9 nurseries have been prepared and 7 nurseries will be ready in a year. This will directly benefit about 1 lakh farmers of the country. The oil that we normally get from 1 acre of land, be it mustard oil, sunflower, be it groundnut or coconut, we get 4 times more oil per acre than that of palm. Due to this, the farmer earns from one to 1.25 lakh rupees in one acre. The biggest thing is that it is not affected by cold, heat, storm, rain, storm.

If it rains a little earlier, if it rains excessively, or if there is less water, the crop gets ruined. Although there is no problem of water in Assam, still by doing drip irrigation it can work in the land with least water or in rough land, in high-low land, in barren land in which nothing happens. . Our target is that in the coming 5 years, the income of more than one lakh farmers should be about 1 thousand crore rupees, we will make this effort through Patanjali.
When 1 thousand crore rupees will go to the houses of the farmers, then their houses will bring prosperity. This is the work of the first stage, which we will complete in 7 districts. The farmer who is still in the tea garden they do other farming, in which they are not able to get full income.
If gradually more people convert, we will make more efforts. We will leave no stone unturned from our side.
Today other companies working in the field of palm plantation have also come here, they too are congratulated. Together make Assam prosperous. We have made health and prosperity the mission of our life and in this we have to take Assam forward as a leading state. Till now I have been in touch with at least 40-50 Chief Ministers of the country, but our Assam Chief Minister Shri Hamanta Bishwa Sharma ji works for about 18 to 20 hours from 7:00 am to 12:00 midnight.
There is a strong desire within them that I have to make Assam a state with the richest cultural heritage, prosperity and health of the country, whose example can be given not only in the country but in the whole world and I believe that in 5 to 10 years this will happen. Our Hemant Vishwa Sharma ji will make the state. They are working towards making Assam prosperous not only in agriculture but in all fields.
We came to Assam 32 years ago. Very few people know that our first work place, service land was Assam state. Now that God has given us the strength, be it health, education, agriculture, industry, yoga-ayurveda or whatever field, our aim is to have the largest wellness center of North East here by December this year. Will start in Guwahati. Along with that, there is also a target to build a hospital, one or two Ayurveda and Naturopathy centers and two medical colleges.
We have donated our 4-5 sadhus to Assam only, our revered Sadhvi Dev Swaroop ji leads them. Currently, we will educate at least 5000 children in the first phase and later 10000 children. We will enlighten them by giving them our Sanatan Sanskar along with modern education.
We have to take Assam forward. Regarding Assam, we have big dreams. 'I was born in a farmer's family. Both my parents are illiterate, but I moved forward with a resolve that I have to do something for the country. Just as I have reached here today, have increased the pride of Yoga, Ayurveda and Sanatan Dharma in the whole world for the sake of India, if you also make efforts then you will become the one who will make Assam proud and will make Mother India proud.
In this ritual of wealth creation along with health, Agriculture Minister Shri Atul Verma ji, Dr. Ashish ji and the dignitaries present on the stage also gave lectures.