**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a request from the State Government of Telangana for the establishment of a Regional Research Centre for Oil Palm. The request, made in the context of Telangana's large-scale promotion of oil palm cultivation (currently covering 91,200 hectares with plans to add 40,000 hectares annually), sought scientific support for the state's oil palm farmers.
The Union Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, denied the request. The response, delivered by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, cited the existing ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) in Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh, as adequately serving the research and support needs of all oil palm growers nationwide, including those in Telangana. The IIOPR, located approximately 350 km from Hyderabad, is mandated to conduct and coordinate research on all aspects of oil palm, from conservation to post-harvest technology, and provides capacity-building programs for farmers, state officials, and entrepreneurs.
Despite denying a dedicated research center, the Union Government approved Telangana's Annual Action Plan target of expanding oil palm cultivation by an additional 50,000 hectares for the year 2025-26. Furthermore, the government is collaborating with state governments and stakeholders through the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), organizing Mega Oil Palm Plantation Drives in implementing states like Telangana to further expand oil palm cultivation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Telangana: A state in India that requested the Union Government for the establishment of a Regional Research Centre for Oil Palm.
Oil Palm: A crop being promoted in Telangana, with a request for a dedicated research center.
SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY: Member of LOK SABHA who raised a question about the Regional Research Centre for Oil Palm.
SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY: Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer to the question.
ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR), Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh: A national institute responsible for research on oil palm, located in Andhra Pradesh.
Hyderabad: The city that is near ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR), Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh.
National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP): A Government of India initiative to promote oil palm cultivation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4204
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH AUGUST, 2025
REGIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE FOR OIL PALM
4204. SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the State Government of Telangana has requested the Union Government for
establishment of a Regional Research Centre for Oil Palm in the State to provide scientific support
to the oil palm farmers in the State as it is promoting oil palm cultivation on a massive scale as a
part of crop diversification as an area of 91,200 ha, is under Oil Palm cultivation in the State;
(b) whether there are any plans to bring additional area of 40,000 ha, every year to make the
State as one of the largest State for oil palm cultivation and to cater to the requirement of edible
oil and to help oil palm industry in the State; and
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a): A request regarding establishment of Oil Palm Research Centre in Telangana has been
received from Govt. of Telangana. The matter was examined. The ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil
Palm Research (IIOPR) located at Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh (just 350 km from Hyderabad) is a
national institute entrusted to undertake research on oil palm. Being a National Institute, ICAR-
IIOPR conducts and coordinates research on all aspects of oil palm (conservation, improvement,
production, protection, post-harvest technology and transfer of technology) and caters to the
needs of oil palm growers for all the States in the country including Telangana. In addition, capacity
building programmes on oil palm management are being organized by ICAR-IIOPR to farmers,
State department officials and entrepreneurs belonging to oil palm growing states. In light of
above, establishing a separate Oil palm research centre for Telangana was not acceded to and
same was informed to Government of Telangana.
1(b) & (c): Under the Annual Action plan of the State of Telangana an additional area expansion
targets of 50,000 hectares for the year 2025-26, has been approved. Further, in collaboration with
State Governments and stakeholders in National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)
implementing States, including Telangana, the Government of India is organizing Mega Oil Palm
Plantation Drives to bring more area under oil palm cultivation.
******
2