Service

Crop assistance & Management

Government assistance and schemes

National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP):Provides assistance for planting materials, maintenance, and irrigation.

National Mission on Edible Oil – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP):A current scheme (2021-22 to 2025-26) offering financial support for planting material, maintenance, irrigation, and other inputs.

Financial aid

– Assistance for planting materials is provided, with different rates for indigenous and imported seedlings.
– Support is available for the gestation period (first four years), covering maintenance costs.
– Assistance is also offered for establishing seed gardens and nurseries.

Key management practices

Irrigation

– Ensuring adequate water supply is crucial, especially with drip or microjet systems, as it is a fast-growing crop.
– Water requirements vary by season, with higher needs during hot summers.
– Irrigation channels along the palm rows are not recommended; focus on the basin method or drip/microjet systems.

Mulching

– Essential for conserving moisture and controlling weeds.
– Materials like empty bunches, male flowers, dried leaves, or coconut husks can be used.

Weed control

– Regularly remove weeds around young palms to prevent competition for nutrients and water.

Pruning

– Cut only the dry leaves of the oil palm.
– Retain the maximum number of green leaves for photosynthesis.

Fertilization

– Apply fertilizers and organic matter like compost or farmyard manure as recommended to meet the palm’s nutritional needs.

Ablation

– During the first three years, remove all inflorescences to allow the plant to develop a strong stem and root system.

Harvesting

– Harvesting should occur every 10–12 days, or 6–7 days during the rainy season when ripening is faster.
– A stalk length of 5 cm should be left on the fruit bunch during harvest.
– Chisel harvesting is used for young palms, while a hook is used for taller palms.
– Do not tie the fronds close to the stem to avoid reducing the photosynthetic activity.