With a Malaysia-based firm bagging the contract for setting up the new oil palm factory in Dammapeta mandal, civil works at the site earmarked for the processing unit at Apparaopeta are expected to commence within a fortnight.
The State Oil Federation has proposed to set up the new oil palm factory of 30 tonnes per hour crushing capacity at an estimated outlay of Rs. 62 crore in addition to its already existing factory in Aswaraopeta.
The burgeoning demand for adequate processing facilities due to the high yield of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) and the low potential of the existing unit in Aswaraopeta (15 tonnes per hour crushing capacity) has prompted the State Oil Federation to sanction the new processing unit. The tender process for the new oil palm factory was completed in an expeditious manner a few weeks ago in the backdrop of widespread protest by the aggrieved oil palm growers last month. The officials concerned have reportedly made temporary arrangements for processing of the FFB produce of oil palm growers of Aswaraopeta and Dammapeta mandals at the processing units in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, sources said.
However, a long-term solution to woes of oil palm growers continues to elude them. The area under oil palm cultivation in the district is estimated to be over 12,000 hectares. Civil works are likely to begin on October 22, said Ranga Reddy, Senior Manager, Telangana Oil Seeds Growers` Federation, Hyderabad.
