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To address these issues, the Assam government has taken a number of initiatives, like crop diversification with the Assam Millets Mission, the Assam Fodder Mission, and oil palm cultivation.
(i) Assam Millets Mission (AMM): In line with the adoption of an India-sponsored resolution, 2023 is being celebrated as the International Year of Millets by the United Nations. The state government has already taken advance steps and set up the Assam Millets Mission (AMM) for a period of seven years, from 2022-23 to 2028-29, with a total outlay of Rs 200 crore. The key activities under the mission include: (a) market and nutrition-supportive production; (b) post-harvest and value-added side aspects; and (c) market linkages. (d) Better nutrition and healthy, disease-free Assam through millets. This is being integrated with Poshan Abhiyan and the Midday Meal Scheme to ensure the adoption of these nutrient-rich cereals in the diets of school-going and pre-school children, as well as pregnant mothers. For the first four years, the target is to bring around a 20,000-hectare (ha) area under millets cultivation and increase productivity from 600 kg per ha to 1200 kg per ha.
(ii) Assam Fodder Mission: The state government has set up the Assam Fodder Mission (AFM) for a period of seven years, from 2022-23 to 2028-29, with an outlay of Rs 120 crore. The key activities envisaged under the mission include: (a) fodder seed production and distribution; (b) fodder production demonstrations; (c) post-harvest management and mechanization; and (d) awareness generation, training, and capacity building. The annual requirement of green fodder in the state is around 23 lakh metric tonnes, but only 85,000 metric tonnes are produced in the state. Thus, there is a deficit of around 22 lakh metric tonnes. In the first four years, i.e., till 2026, the target is to bring around 22,000 ha under fodder cultivation.
(iii) Oil palm cultivation (NMEO-OP): The central government has identified 3.75 lakh ha of area with potential for oil palm cultivation and set a target of 2 lakh ha of area to be covered under oil palm cultivation till 2025-26. The Indian government has approved 18 districts for the implementation of the scheme, and accordingly, the districts have been divided into six zones for oil palm cultivation. 2084 ha area land have already been brought under oil palm cultivation. Four nurseries have been set up through four FPCs. Three zones have already been allotted to four processors (Patanjali Foods, Godrej Agrovet, KE Cultivation Pvt. Ltd., and 3F Oil Palm Ltd.). 19 nurseries have been setup by the processor companies for the production of 0il palm seedlings. 20.65 lakh sprouts have been sown, and these seedlings will be ready for plantation in farmers’ fields from February 2024 onwards. Notably, 200 ha of land have been planted under NMEO-OP till date. Exposure visits for farmers to oil palm-growing states are also being carried out. Land acquired for one processing unit at Dhing, Nagaon, by Patanjali Foods Ltd.
Also Read: Assam: International Year of Millets celebrated
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