Agartala, May 30 (Reporter) Converting rubber plantation,three progressive farmers, Phani Bhushan Deb, Nirupama Laskar Debbarma, and Aparajita Deb, planted 1,115 oil palm saplings across 7.6 hectares of land in Tripura's Sepahijala district. Under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), the state government has provided saplings free of cost, while the state agriculture department has cleared old rubber gardens, dug pits for sapling plantation, and raised protection fencing. Achieving self-sufficiency in edible oil production, oil palm cultivation has been introduced in Tripura’s Sepahijala district. Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday kicked off the initiative at Paschim Amtali Para under Brajapur Gram Panchayat in Charilam Block. “Not a single rupee was spent by the farmers, making this a model for government-supported agriculture transformation,” Nath stated. Challenging adverse weather, Minister Nath visited the site and planted the first oil palm sapling, formally inaugurating the project along with the officials of the department. He emphasised the economic viability of oil palm cultivation, stating that, like rubber, oil palms start yielding fruits after four years. India is self-sufficient in milk, fish, and eggs, but not in edible oil. "We still depend on imports from Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil can help us bridge this gap. Edible oil is a staple in every household and industry—from cooking to cosmetics,” Nath stated. Urging all farmers with available land to take up oil palm and other forms of oilseed cultivation, he assured full government support for ventures including almond, pulses, and oil palm farming. Comparing the economic viability, the minister pointed out that rubber prices fluctuate frequently, but the demand and price of edible oil are stable and, in fact, are expected to rise...////...