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“Plant Now, Take Care†Targets 1M Oil Palm Seedlings Planted
“Plant Now, Take Care†Targets 1M Oil Palm Seedlings Planted
19/10/2015 (Sun.Star) - A P1 billion government investment on oil palm promises to convert poverty to prosperity.
Dr. Pablito P. Pamplona, board of trustees of the Philippine Palm Oil Development Council, Inc. (PPDCI) in a speech during the Malaysian Palm Oil Council Forum yesterday at the Marco Polo Hotel-Davao said that there are a lot of benefits if the Philippine government makes 1,000,000 oil palm seedlings available to smallholders on “Plant now, Take Care (PNTC)” and invest with a billion on oil palm.
“The distribution among small landholders of 1,000,000 oil palm seedlings is expected to convert idle, underutilized agricultural lands, grass and brushlands to agro-reforestation and high productivity within a total of 7,143 hectares, liberate 3,571 farmers from poverty assuming that each farmer is provided planting materials good for 2 ha. or 240 plants, create 5,000 farm jobs and 80 milling jobs,” he said.
“It will also produce crude palm oil for import substitution – at a yield of four tons of palm oil per ha annually at P30,000 for 20 years amounting to P18,286,080,000,” he added.
Pamplona also pointed out that the 1,000,000 oil palm seedlings if made available to small landowners will generate some P750 million in foreign and local investments in the putting up and operation of two additional milling plants, increase business activities in various rural communities and increase tax revenue of the Local Government Units (LGUs).
In his presentation, the cost to the government of planting 1,000,000 seedlings at P200 will translate for a total of P200 million. Another P20 million for seedlings distribution and training of farmers may be included for a total of P220 million.
In a recent report, as initial government action, the Department of Agriculture will add a budget allocation of some P50 million this year, several folds of the previous year’s budget at only P1 million. The budget will be utilized as assistance to farmers, for fertilizers, seedlings and research and development.
At present, the Philippines has a total area of 75,000 has. planted with palm oil, around 69,000 are in Mindanao, the rest are in Palawan and Bohol.
The expansion will need some 38.4 to 42 million oil palm seedlings, with an average of 128 to 140 trees per hectare. At present, the country is importing a total of 350,000 to 400,000 metric tons (MT) amounting to P35 billion annually.
The country is importing palm oil from neighboring Asean countries, like Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, among others. Meanwhile, Some 170 stakeholders from across the country attended the forum. The forum carries the theme: "Health, Progress and Sustainability through Malaysian Palm Oil."
Dr. Pablito P. Pamplona, board of trustees of the Philippine Palm Oil Development Council, Inc. (PPDCI) in a speech during the Malaysian Palm Oil Council Forum yesterday at the Marco Polo Hotel-Davao said that there are a lot of benefits if the Philippine government makes 1,000,000 oil palm seedlings available to smallholders on “Plant now, Take Care (PNTC)” and invest with a billion on oil palm.
“The distribution among small landholders of 1,000,000 oil palm seedlings is expected to convert idle, underutilized agricultural lands, grass and brushlands to agro-reforestation and high productivity within a total of 7,143 hectares, liberate 3,571 farmers from poverty assuming that each farmer is provided planting materials good for 2 ha. or 240 plants, create 5,000 farm jobs and 80 milling jobs,” he said.
“It will also produce crude palm oil for import substitution – at a yield of four tons of palm oil per ha annually at P30,000 for 20 years amounting to P18,286,080,000,” he added.
Pamplona also pointed out that the 1,000,000 oil palm seedlings if made available to small landowners will generate some P750 million in foreign and local investments in the putting up and operation of two additional milling plants, increase business activities in various rural communities and increase tax revenue of the Local Government Units (LGUs).
In his presentation, the cost to the government of planting 1,000,000 seedlings at P200 will translate for a total of P200 million. Another P20 million for seedlings distribution and training of farmers may be included for a total of P220 million.
In a recent report, as initial government action, the Department of Agriculture will add a budget allocation of some P50 million this year, several folds of the previous year’s budget at only P1 million. The budget will be utilized as assistance to farmers, for fertilizers, seedlings and research and development.
At present, the Philippines has a total area of 75,000 has. planted with palm oil, around 69,000 are in Mindanao, the rest are in Palawan and Bohol.
The expansion will need some 38.4 to 42 million oil palm seedlings, with an average of 128 to 140 trees per hectare. At present, the country is importing a total of 350,000 to 400,000 metric tons (MT) amounting to P35 billion annually.
The country is importing palm oil from neighboring Asean countries, like Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, among others. Meanwhile, Some 170 stakeholders from across the country attended the forum. The forum carries the theme: "Health, Progress and Sustainability through Malaysian Palm Oil."