KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Sept 23 Asia Pulse - The country,s palmoil industry may yet develop another 4,000 hectares for plantation inCentral Mindanao within the next 12 months.

Ponciano Narciso, president of the Philippine Palm Oil DevelopmentCouncil, Inc. (PPDCI), said that industry players have agreed to put up inCotabato province palm oil nurseries that would produce planting materialsfor a 2,000-hectare plantation in the province.

With the existing nurseries in Sultan Kudarat province, Narciso said theyexpect that "at least 4,000 hectares will be developed in other parts ofthe region within the next 12 months or so."

Central Mindanao is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato,Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan,Tacurong, Koronadal and General Santos.

Presently, the region has at least 5,000 hectares planted to palm oil(Elaeis Guineensis) by Kenram Phils in Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat.Narciso said the region is best suited for palm oil.

Mamutur Cariga, chief of the Department of Environment and NaturalResources-12 Forest Resources Development Division, said that some 96,470hectares of land are readily available for the cultivation of palm oil inthe region.

"These are mostly forest grass lands owned by the government thatpotential palm oil investors could use through an agreement with thestate," said Cariga.

He noted the agriculture and environment departments must jointly certifyareas owned by the government that would be proposed for oil palmplantation development.

Citing 2003 figures, Cariga said that about 20,000 hectares of land allover the country are planted to palm, but in order to sustain localdemands, the total figure should be 75,000 hectares.

Palm oil, aside from being an ingredient in margarine and shortenings, isalso used in the manufacture of soaps or detergents, among others.

Reacting to Narciso's call for the advancement of palm oil plantation inCentral Mindanao, city Mayor Fernando Miguel said the local governmentwould spearhead a campaign to encourage farmers to plant palm in thelocality.

Meanwhile, Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez said they are expecting theMalaysian Industry Minister to arrive next month to look into possiblejoint ventures on palm oil development in the province.

(PNA)