Hyderabad: IT and Industries Minister K Tarakarama Rao participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of Godrej Agrovet at Gubbagurthy Village in Konijerla Mandal, Khammam District today.
This plant with an investment of Rs 300 Crores will support 50,000 farmers and create employment for 2,000 persons in the region.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Minister KTR said, “Telangana is all set to become a new home for the Godrej group. With the groundbreaking of their first palm oil factory in Khammam, this is first of the many investments in diverse areas such as dairy, animal feed, retail, real estate, FMCG and much more that we are working closely together on. Khammam will host a world-class edible oil processing complex with India’s first commercial seed garden bringing top-end plant genetics to India.”
“Godrej has come forward as a strong and reliable partner to Telangana and we are fostering a deep relationship across many sectors. Apart from oil palm, Godrej is looking at investments in dairy, pharma, personal care products (soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, etc.), furniture, real estate, retail, poultry, animal feed, and aquaculture. Announcements across these sectors will also shortly follow as we conclude discussions on the same,” said Minister KTR.
Minister KTR informed that Godrej has partnered with reputed global companies to establish India’s first private oil palm seed garden on this premises to develop seed varieties suitable for the local climate and will establish a nursery with the capacity to nurture 5 lakh saplings. He also mentioned that Khammam was a core area of interest for the Godrej group and will be working with the state government to create one-stop farmer care centers where all requirements about oil palm such as fertilizers, harvest tools, plant protection solutions, and extension services will be provided to farmers.
“The robust infrastructure of Rythu Vedikas and strong agriculture extension machinery will enable for fast uptake of oil palm cultivation making Telangana a leader in yet one more sector. This is the first of many big announcements from Godrej in the state and Telangana is set to become a new home for the Godrej group,” said Minister KTR.
Minister KTR said, “Telangana government is extending a subsidy component of Rs 50,000 per acre to farmers for cultivating oil palm.” He added that the abundant water availability has increased productivity and the production base for all crops including oilseed crops has increased multi-folds. “Telangana State has embarked on an ambitious oil palm mission with a target to bring 20 lakh acres under cultivation,” he added.
He also said that the oil palm mission of Telangana is expected to improve incomes for about 5 lakh farmers and additionally generate employment opportunities for 2.3 lakh personnel. “Going at this rate, Telangana will become the largest oil palm producing state in India overtaking AP in the coming 1-2 years. Telangana apart from being the rice bowl of the nation will also become the largest edible oil producer in India,” said KTR. The Minister said that the Telangana Government is giving top priority to the green revolution (agriculture), white revolution (milk production), blue revolution (fisheries), pink revolution (meat), and yellow revolution (edible oil) to make the State self-reliant. (INN)