Goalpara Farmers Struggle Due to Lack of Oil Palm Processing Plants

Oil palm farmers in Goalpara face challenges due to high transportation costs and lack of local processing facilities, leading to low returns. Around 700 farmers, promised high profits, are now forced to sell their Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) at prices below the government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP), with some switching to rubber cultivation.

Farmers like Phukon Rabha have expressed frustration over the agriculture department’s lack of support, citing missing infrastructure like processing plants and collection centers. The district commissioner acknowledged the issue and assured efforts to promote oil palm cultivation through government initiatives, though the absence of local processing plants remains a major hurdle.