Time to adapt regenerative farming system in oil palm

About 2.7 million hectares of potential area has been identified in India by the government agency for oil palm cultivation through growers. Special emphasis is being placed on increasing the area under palm oil in a short period of time, under the “National Mission for Edible Oils – Palm Oil (NMEO-OP)” launched on 18th August 2021 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India.

There is a shift in the cropping pattern in Indian agriculture, such as traditional crops to cash crops or commercial crops. This is crop diversity. Palm oil is one of the best examples. Among the various commercial crops, cultivation of oil palm in different parts of India takes priority, and the area under oil palm is being expanded by small, medium and large farmers.

Guaranteed return and guaranteed income: The oil palm provides a guaranteed yield to the farmers throughout the year because there is a guarantee that their products will be bought back by the processor under the control of the government. As the crop ages, commercial crops begin and increase from year four onwards, and maximum yields of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) – 20 tons or more per hectare per year – stabilize in year nine and continue. This helps in increasing the income of the farmers. The economic life of the crop is about 30 years.

• Also read: Growth trajectory and prospects for palm oil in India

Dastardly project

Agricultural issues resulting from environmental stress directly affect farmers’ income. During the period from October to November 2020, Godrej Agrovet Ltd. (GAVL) High quality, high yielding oil palm seedlings extracted from semi-clonal seeds, originating in Malaysia. These seedlings were distributed to two farmers with an area of ​​160-170 hectares. Under GAVL plant area in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh on trial scale. Production of FFBs from this high-yielding variety is expected to begin production from 2024 onwards. Higher yields will improve farmers’ profits.

There is good scope to enhance the current yield by one and a half to two times per hectare per annum by introducing semi-clonal/clonal plant material in India, specifically in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to begin with where farmers have successfully and sustainably embraced the oil palm crop. Improved productivity will reduce production cost per unit area. The oil palm industry must keep a close eye on all technological breakthroughs and remain open to adapting to them. Palm oil, being an edible oil crop, will provide food security for India in the future which is beyond doubt.

• Also read: Indian palm oil industry is gaining momentum

Climate change

There is a growing concern around the world about climate change and the issue of groundwater level depletion and soil health. This can be well addressed, if we are able to use our water resources, crop waste and mill waste effectively, wisely and technically. For example, the game-changing concept of crop per drop of water through micro-irrigation, recycling of crop residues and reuse of mill waste, such as empty fruit bunches (EFBs) and processed palm oil mill residues (POME) – re-tilling them back into the soil to improve soil fertility and productivity.

• Also read: Social and environmental practices in the palm oil industry in India

So far, more than 70 percent of oil palm growers in India have adopted drip/micro-field irrigation systems, while in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the figure is over 96 percent. Credit goes to the farmers, processors, IIOPR, and government at the state and central levels for the initiatives taken and support provided for the installation of the micro-irrigation system in the oil palm field. Fortunately, the Indian oil palm industry has not experienced any major untoward incident towards ecological imbalance in this regard.

Regenerative farming system in oil palm is possible through IRRR – increase crop yield through introduction of high yielding oil palm seedlings, recycling of crop residues in field, reuse of mill waste both in field and in mill, reducing cultivation cost through integrated management.

Practices: Once we adapt to a regenerative palm oil farming system, our focus becomes instrumental in building the resilience of agro-ecosystems.

The author is the former CEO of Oil Palm Plantation, Godrej Agrovet Ltd. Opinions are personal