The Agriculture Department has outlined a plan under the National Cooking Oil Mission to establish value‑addition clusters and demonstration plots in Virudhunagar district. The initiative is set to begin in 2026 and will run through 2033, providing farmers with new seed varieties and high‑yield technologies.

Virudhunagar Collector N.O. Sukhaputra announced that the groundnut cluster and demonstration plots will be set up in Kariyapatti, M. Reddiyapatti, Narikudi, Watrap, Virudhunagar and Aruppukottai blocks. The cluster will cover 1,000 hectares of farmland.

Farmers will receive new groundnut varieties within seven years, and the project will purchase groundnuts through Farmers Producers’ Organisation to support oil production. Similarly, a 300‑hectare sunflower value‑addition cluster and 100‑hectare demo plots will be established in Virudhunagar, Aruppukottai and M. Reddiyapatti blocks.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this project will stabilize the domestic cooking oil supply while offering farmers better income and employment prospects. It is a crucial step toward enhancing India’s self‑sufficiency in edible oil production.

"The groundnut and sunflower clusters will provide farmers with both technical assistance and market access," says Dr. Rashmi Shetti, an agricultural expert.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is this initiative open to all farmers? Yes, the program is designed to benefit all eligible local farmers.

2. What is the primary purpose of the demo plots? Demo plots are intended to test new varieties and advanced farming techniques, providing farmers with practical experience.