MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Oil Palm Poised as Next Mainstay Crop in Davao Oriental
Oil Palm Poised as Next Mainstay Crop in Davao Oriental
01/04/2014 (PIA) - After intensive studies on what possible industries to engage in and crops to grow in the typhoon devastated east coast towns, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental together with industry experts conducted this morning (March 31) a consultation and orientation on the oil palm industry development poised to be the next mainstay industry in the province.
Dr. Pablito P. Pamplona, an expert on oil palm production and the newly-appointed head secretary of the Provincial Oil Palm Development Council told farmers how lucrative the oil palm industry is in comparison to other agri-based industries.
He explained that farmers could already start to get yield within two and a half years with harvests as frequent as every 15 days, unlike coconut crop, which takes six years to grow and even has an erratic price in the world market, thus, making it an unstable crop.
In addition, said Dr. Pamplona, oil palm has a yield potential of over 60 tons of fresh fruit bunch per hectare. “And with the application of ‘high-yielding’ technologies, farmers could earn a much higher income than with most other crops,” he said while further suggesting intercropping strategies for the first few years to boost their income.
AGUMIL Philippines, who will invest on oil palm production in the province, says Davao Oriental would only have to comply initially with the minimum requirement of 4,000 hectares for oil palm so that they could set up a processing plant.
Meanwhile, during the orientation, financing schemes were also presented to farmers by lending institutions, who are offering financing assistance to farmers or farmer organizations in the form of loans with very low interest rates and with a five-year grace period.
With all agriculture crops left in shambles after the unprecedented devastation brought about by typhoon Pablo, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon hopes to push through the project as it apparently shows very high success rate.
Considering Davao Oriental as one of the areas with high suitability to oil palm production, the Provincial Government believes that this could be the province’s answer in achieving a progressive economy and development in rural communities.
Governor Malanyaon said that she envisions the Oil Palm Industry Development Program as a catalyst for development that would benefit people even beyond her term as governor.
She further urged the farmers to seize the opportunity and to do their fair share of efforts in order to help themselves bounce back from the devastation typhoon Pablo has caused.
Dr. Pablito P. Pamplona, an expert on oil palm production and the newly-appointed head secretary of the Provincial Oil Palm Development Council told farmers how lucrative the oil palm industry is in comparison to other agri-based industries.
He explained that farmers could already start to get yield within two and a half years with harvests as frequent as every 15 days, unlike coconut crop, which takes six years to grow and even has an erratic price in the world market, thus, making it an unstable crop.
In addition, said Dr. Pamplona, oil palm has a yield potential of over 60 tons of fresh fruit bunch per hectare. “And with the application of ‘high-yielding’ technologies, farmers could earn a much higher income than with most other crops,” he said while further suggesting intercropping strategies for the first few years to boost their income.
AGUMIL Philippines, who will invest on oil palm production in the province, says Davao Oriental would only have to comply initially with the minimum requirement of 4,000 hectares for oil palm so that they could set up a processing plant.
Meanwhile, during the orientation, financing schemes were also presented to farmers by lending institutions, who are offering financing assistance to farmers or farmer organizations in the form of loans with very low interest rates and with a five-year grace period.
With all agriculture crops left in shambles after the unprecedented devastation brought about by typhoon Pablo, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon hopes to push through the project as it apparently shows very high success rate.
Considering Davao Oriental as one of the areas with high suitability to oil palm production, the Provincial Government believes that this could be the province’s answer in achieving a progressive economy and development in rural communities.
Governor Malanyaon said that she envisions the Oil Palm Industry Development Program as a catalyst for development that would benefit people even beyond her term as governor.
She further urged the farmers to seize the opportunity and to do their fair share of efforts in order to help themselves bounce back from the devastation typhoon Pablo has caused.