Assam Pradesh Kissan Congress stage a protests against palm oil cultivation

GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Kissan Congress (APKC) staged a protest in front of the Directorate of Agriculture (DA) at Khanapara in Guwahati on Thursday against the Rs 11,040 crore National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme. A memorandum was also given to the Chief Minister of Assam through the Director of Agriculture to stop the palm deal in Assam.

The APKC Media Cell Vice-Chairman Mehedi Alom Bora and Assam Pradesh Krishak Congress General Secretary (Administrative) Debakanta Saikia were present at the protest with General Secretary (Organisational) Nazrul Kazi. The protest was attended by APKC members and farmers from various districts of Assam. The protestors also gave a list of side effects of palm oil cultivation.

They said the department had signed contracts with private parties in May 2021 to cultivate the crop in Tinsukia, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Kamrup, and Goalpara districts of the state in an attempt towards large-scale production, which can bring massive destruction of forests. This will lead to a loss of biodiversity and massive carbon dioxide emissions in the name of clearing the areas. Greenhouse gases will increase as well, increasing human-animal conflicts.

They also pointed out the massive waste generated by these factories, which can destroy the environment and harm the local biodiversity. They also mentioned the water prospect of commercial cultivation of this crop, leading to a complete depletion of groundwater because of irrigation, apart from the risks of heart disease because of this crop. They also pointed out that 100 scientists from across the country requested the PM stop commercial cultivation, giving an example of its ban in Sri Lanka. They also mentioned that this initiative will increase dependency on corporate groups and destroy any possibility of self-reliance.

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