Bhubaneswar: To enhance edible oil production and drive agro-industrial development in the state, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three leading oil palm companies to initiate large-scale plantations across four districts.
The agreement, formalized under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), will facilitate oil palm cultivation in Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, and Cuttack districts. The Directorate of Horticulture, representing the Government of Odisha, signed the MoU with Patanjali Foods Limited (Cuttack), Tumfala Agro Products Private Limited (Angul), and Liv Palm Resources Private Limited (Dhenkanal and Jajpur).
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Singh Deo welcomed the partnering companies and called the collaboration a major step toward transforming Odisha’s agricultural and industrial landscape. “This initiative will not only increase edible oil production but also bring about a socio-economic shift by creating rural employment and ensuring better market prices for our farmers,” he said.
He further noted that the project is poised to attract substantial private investment, generate agri-based industrial opportunities, and provide long-term benefits to Odisha’s farming communities. “The cultivation of oil palm will empower farmers with a reliable income source while creating a sustainable ecosystem for agro-industrial development,” he added.
Representatives from the partnering companies expressed their commitment to adopting modern agricultural technologies, innovative plantation techniques, and best practices to optimize oil palm production in the region.
The event saw the presence of key officials, including Dr. Arabinda Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Shubham Saxena, Director of Agriculture, Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, Director of Horticulture, along with other senior officers of the department.
