Oil palm stakeholders urge resuming cultivation

Smallholders of oil palm cultivation and experts in the economic agriculture sector emphasized that resuming oil palm cultivation can easily earn foreign exchange while quenching the local demand for edible oil.

They pointed out that Sri Lanka is the only country in the world that has banned oil palm cultivation while countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and India generate millions of dollars in foreign exchange from oil palm cultivation, alleging that the ban was not made on a scientific basis.

While participating in an expert roundtable discussion in Colombo yesterday on pros and cons of the oil palm cultivation and impact of the ban on oil palm cultivation, they pointed out that oil palm cultivation has a substantial potential in boosting the country’s socio-economic status.

A prominent Sri Lankan expert in plantation management and agricultural science Prof Asoka Nugawela said that Indonesia, which is currently the world leader in oil palm production and industry, rakes a huge foreign income from oil palm cultivation. According to him, a committee appointed by the government appointed to study the consequences of the oil palm ban, has submitted a report to the government, suggesting to recommence planting oil palm under several conditions and restrictions. Prof. Nugawela appreciated the committee report as is could be helpful to save a significant amount of forex used to import edible oil to meet the local demand.

The experts noted that ideological problems arose in the early stages, just like in Sri Lanka. According to them the oil palm plant has high potential to produce biofuels, which are a crop that meets the edible oil needs of the large population living in the Asian region and a basic need for the future world economy. Prof. Nugawela further said that 40 percent of the world’s edible oil requirement is sullied by the oil palm. Oil palm cultivation is the most yield cultivation as a hectare can produce around 12Mt of oil annually.  According to experts, the Asian and African regions can obtain a good harvest from the oil palm plant. It is Europe that creates the idea that this crop will cause environmental or social problems.

“We need to rethink about that since the oil farm industry has been a unique factor in strengthening the rural economy of Indonesia. Many private sector companies would like to be a part of Sri Lanka’s oil palm cultivation once the ban is lift. Oil palm is a great answer to the global economy’s pressing need for edible oil. Compared to all other oil crops, oil palm is a leading crop that can produce more oil at a lower cost and can contribute significantly to the economy by managing environmental conditions well,” he added.

While participating in the scholarly discussion, many experts highlighted that the ban on oil palm cultivation was made without any scientific basis and therefore, the committee report has suggested growing 20,000 hectares of oil palm to meet the local demand.

Meanwhile smallholder growers demanded that opportunities be provided again for oil palm cultivation, which generates more income at lower cost and requires less maintenance and labor costs.

Source : Daily News