Oil palm will be profitable for NE states: MS Khaidem
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 08 2025: As oil palm plantations in some of the north eastern states are yielding positive results even without reliance on irrigation, expanding similar projects will be beneficial for the region which has no rainfall issues and has rich moisture content, stated Oil Palm Mission Manipur consultant MS Khaidem.

Aftermath of queries from different sections of the society on how oil palm plantations, which generally entails use of adequate quantity of water, could be implemented in Manipur which is bereft of proper irrigation system, The People's Chronicle talked to the Mission's consultant MS Khaidem, raising queries relating to oil palm plantation in the state.

Oil palm will be profitable for NE states: MS Khaidem

While noting that oil palm is relatively new for Manipur, he said the assessment committee constituted by the government of India has already identified 66,652 hectares of land in six districts of the state as suitable for oil palm projects.

When oil palm plantation is carried out in 50,000 hectares of lands, the state could produce one lakh ton of palm oil, the consultant estimated, adding that the state level standing committee has identified 7,155 hectares of land in Jiribam district where oil palms could be grown.

Reflecting on the recent exposure trip to Irulu district of Andhra Pradesh by a joint team of officials of agriculture and environment departments and some media persons, he explained, that regardless of the stark difference in topography and geography between Manipur and Andhra Pradesh, the state's farmers need not worry but take heart from the success stories of oil palm plantations in some north eastern states and positive outcomes of demonstration farms at the foothills in Manipur, Khaidem said.

Regarding the suitability of oil palm plantation in the North East region and Manipur, MS Khaidem said Andhra Pradesh is not only rain-deficient state but also have low soil moisture due to high temperature throughout the year ranging from 38 to 40 degree Celsius.

Accordingly, drip irrigation is essential for oil palm plantation in the southern state.

On the contrary, Manipur and other NE states have comparatively low temperature and high rainfall.

Hence, irrigation is not mandatory for meeting the moisture content requirement, he said while referring to successful trial plantation of oil palm initiated by the government of Manipur in Andro, Thoubal and Kheba Ching areas.

MS Khaidem also revealed that Patanjali Food Limited DGM (technical head) Tapas Triparthi described oil palm as amazing tree for earning substantial income for the people of the region.

He quoted Tapas as saying that a farmer in Arunachal Pradesh produces 13-15 tonne of oil palm fruits from one hectare land without the use of water sprayer or fertilizer, though moderate application of fertilizer could increase the yield to 18-20 tonne from the same area.

The reality of oil palm plantation is that yield will increase with application of adequate water, he reasoned, while hastening to inform that oil palm plantation in the NE region could be taken up regardless of lacking proper irrigation system as the region receives abundant rainfall.

Suitable climatic and soil condition is the exact reason why ICAR's Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) recommended oil palm plantation in the NE region with special emphasis on implementation of the project in areas not above 1,000 metres mean sea level, MS Khaidem maintained.

To a query that fresh fruit bunch must reach processing unit within 24 hours and how could a state sans processing unit market the yield, MS Khaidem said Godrej Agrovet Limited and Patanjali Food Limited already finalised plan to set up processing units in the state within three years.

Additionally, the Government of Manipur had already signed Memorandum of Understanding with both the companies in this regard.

At present, the nearest processing unit is at Kolasib in Mizoram and both the companies will surely purchase the yield from Manipur as per the MoU, he added.