Oil Palm Farming

Oil Palm Plantation

When you see an oil palm tree what comes to mind? To many it is a beauty which can add colour to the front lawn,to some it is an edible food source.Palm oil is all this and more. It is above all else a great investment opportunity if done right.

Commercial Oil Palm  Processing Plant

Oil palm must be cultivated in large plantations as the minimum spacing for each palm is 9mx9mx9m in a triangular planting method. This will accomodate143 plants per hectar and require about 7ha of fertile,aerable land to plant 1000 seedlings.It is advisable to use a high yielding variety like the Tenera or Supergene oil palm in other to maximize yield.With good agronomy,fresh fruit bunch yields of 30ton/ha and 60ton/ha has been recorded for both the Tenera and Supergene respectively.Oil palm can be intercropped with vegetables during the first three years to compensate for the unproductive period and integrated with livestocks like goats,sheep or cattle later on to reduce the operating cost of the plantation.Livestock graze on the weed and the droppings fertilize the soil.Extra care must be taken when grazing animals in the plantation as they can compact the soil around a palm tree so rotational grazing programes must be strictly adhered to.Ripe fruits must be collected in time to avoid being eaten by local wildlife such as squirels. Harvesting can be done with the aid of a machine powered palm harvester .

Cattles grazing on palm plantation.

• PLANTING GUIDE: 
• Polybags are filled with manure rich soil. 
• Sprouted seeds are planted in each poly bag and watered at least twice a week. 
• When seedlings emerge mulch should be applied to reduce moisture loss through evapouration. 
• The seedlings will stay in the nursery for 12 to 14 months and require regular weeding and fertilizer application. 
• Planting field should be cleared and planting holes dug 1 month before transplant. Typically holes should be 30cmx30cmx60cm with 9m spacing from each other.
•  Farm yard manure is added to each hole a week to transplant. 
• Seedlings are watered after transplant and mulch is added .
• Palm trees will thrive with minimal care but will generally produce more if given proper attention.Palm takes 2 to 3 years to reach maturity and peak production starts 4 years from field planting.