Oil Palm: Nagaland sends first batch of FFBs for processing to Mizoram

November 10, 2023 29 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 10

For the first time since oil palm plantation was introduced in Nagaland, the state has managed to send its very first batch of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) to Mizoram where Godrej Agrovet Limited’s (GAVL) processing mill is located. A flag programme of the consignments was held in this regard at Agri Expo, 4th Mile Chümoukedima on November 9 with State Director of Agriculture, M Ben Yanthan being invited as the special guest.

A total of about 6 metric tonnes of the FFBs were collected from farms located in Niuland, Chümoukedima and Peren districts and will be processed at GAVL’s lone processing mill for the Northeast region located in Kolasib, Mizoram. This is in accordance with the buy-back policy agreed upon with the company at a rate of Rs 10 per Kg, revised as under Central ministry guidelines.

In his address, the Director shared that the origins of the oil palm cultivation in the state initially began on an area of 100 hectares with the first MoU signed with Shivasais Oil Palm private limited. “If we revisit the MoU signed at that time, there were so many clauses which needed to be fulfilled,” he said.

However, due to several issues and bad experiences with the company concerned, none of these could be realised on time. With renewed efforts from the Central government under the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) the state began to engage with GAVL and Patanjali beginning from this year, he said.

He also encouraged the oil palm farmers to further lend their support and cooperation in achieving the targeted goals set under the mission which will in-turn enhance their income as well.

Representative from Godrej, Dr Toshi who is in-charge of Nagaland state unit reported several challenges that needed to be overcome first including the need to improve the quality of FFBs and proper spacing for plantation. He also mentioned that, with the lack of pollinating weevils needed for the oil palm trees, several were procured from Mizoram and were currently being propagated in farm located under Niuland.

This will be later spread to the other existing farms across the districts given to them, he said.

Meanwhile, an oil-palm farmer from Niuland shared several pertaining issues including the low buy-back rates and challenges in transportation.