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Part 2: Everything you need to know Before starting oil palm(Practical steps to take)

Starting an oil palm business involves several key steps that must be carefully planned and executed over the years to ensure your seedlings grow into high-yielding trees. Below, I’ll outline the practical steps, as well as why, how, and when each procedure is necessary to maximize your plantation’s potential.


1. Land Acquisition and Selection (Year 0)

How:

  • Purchase or lease land in a region with a tropical climate that receives 1,500 mm to 2,500 mm of rainfall annually and has temperatures ranging between 24°C and 28°C. Soil should be well-drained loamy soil with rich organic matter.

Why:

  • The choice of land is critical for the healthy growth of oil palm. Proper climate and soil conditions ensure faster growth, better fruiting, and higher yields.

When:

  • This step should be done at least a year before you plan to plant the seedlings to allow time for site preparation and ensuring the land is ready for cultivation.

2. Land Clearing and Preparation (Year 0 – Early Year 1)

How:

  • Clear the land of shrubs, trees, and stumps. Burning may be used in some cases, but mechanical clearing is better for long-term soil health. After clearing, plow and harrow the land to improve soil texture.
  • Create planting pits that are 60 cm x 60 cm, spaced 8 to 9 meters apart, which results in about 60 seedlings per acre.

Why:

  • Clearing ensures there are no obstructions to the growth of seedlings, while plowing improves soil aeration, allowing roots to penetrate easily.

When:

  • Conduct this during the dry season (between November and February) before the onset of the rains to avoid the compaction of wet soil during preparation.

3. Seedling Selection and Nursery Establishment (Year 1)

How:

  • Establish a nursery with high-yielding hybrid seedlings like the Tenera variety. This nursery should be well-drained, irrigated, and shaded initially to protect young seedlings from excessive sunlight. Raise the seedlings in poly bags for 8-12months.

Why:

  • Hybrid seedlings are bred for high productivity and disease resistance. Raising them in a controlled nursery environment ensures they are strong enough for field planting.

When:

  • Start the nursery between January and March, so the seedlings are ready for transplanting by the following year’s rainy season.

4. Transplanting Seedlings to the Field (End of Year 1 – Early Year 2)

How:

  • Transplant seedlings from the nursery to the field at the beginning of the rainy season, around April to June. Place the seedlings in the pre-dug pits, ensuring the soil is firm around the roots.

Why:

  • Transplanting during the rainy season ensures the seedlings get sufficient water to establish themselves in their new environment without stress.

When:

  • Transplanting should happen at the start of the rainy season to take advantage of natural rainfall and promote healthy root establishment.

5. Irrigation, Fertilization, and Weed Control (Ongoing – Years 2-3)

How:

  • Irrigation: Set up a drip or sprinkler irrigation system if rainfall is insufficient, especially in the dry season.
  • Fertilization: Apply both organic (e.g., compost, poultry manure) and inorganic fertilizers (e.g., NPK 15-15-15) to ensure the palms receive essential nutrients. Fertilize 2-3 times per year.
  • Weed Control: Regular weeding is essential to prevent competition for nutrients. This can be done manually or with herbicides.

Why:

  • Adequate water, nutrients, and weed management during the early years promote faster growth and reduce competition, ensuring the seedlings reach maturity faster and remain healthy.

When:

  • Irrigate as needed, especially during the dry season (December to March).
  • Fertilize every 4-6 months.
  • Weed regularly (every 3 months).

6. Pruning and Pest/Disease Control (Years 3-7)

How:

  • Pruning: Remove dead or damaged fronds every year to improve sunlight penetration and air circulation. Pruning also makes harvesting easier.
  • Pest Control: Common pests include caterpillars, weevils, and beetles. Use organic pesticides and traps where possible, or chemical pesticides if needed.
  • Disease Management: Watch for diseases like Ganoderma and Fusarium wilt. Remove and destroy infected trees and apply fungicides as necessary.

Why:

  • Pruning ensures the tree directs more energy toward fruit production, while pest and disease control is critical to maintaining the health of the trees and protecting yields.

When:

  • Prune annually, ideally at the start of the dry season.
  • Pest and disease control should be done as soon as infestations are detected and regularly monitored throughout the year.

7. Harvesting (From Year 4 Onwards)

How:

  • Once the trees start fruiting (around Year 4 or 5), harvest the fruit bunches by cutting them from the trees using specialized tools like chisels or sickles. Harvesting occurs every 10-14 days to ensure that fruits are collected at peak ripeness.

Why:

  • Harvesting too early or too late affects oil yield and quality. Regular harvesting ensures optimal production.

When:

  • Harvest every 10-14 days once the fruits are ripe. The timing varies depending on the specific growth cycle of your trees.

8. Processing (Years 4 and Beyond)

How:

  • Manual or mechanical processing involves sterilizing, threshing, digesting, pressing, and clarifying to extract crude palm oil. For larger operations, investing in a small-scale palm oil mill ensures better oil extraction rates.

Why:

  • Efficient processing reduces wastage and increases your overall output of crude palm oil (CPO). Processing quickly after harvesting also ensures the best oil quality.

When:

  • Processing should occur immediately after harvesting to prevent fruit deterioration.

9. Reinvestment and Expansion (Year 7 and Beyond)

How:

  • Use profits from early production years to reinvest in more land, better seedlings, and advanced machinery. Consider setting up a refining plant to process crude palm oil into more valuable refined palm oil or other products like palm kernel oil.

Why:

  • Reinvesting helps you scale up your business, diversify products, and capture more value across the supply chain.

When:

  • Start reinvestment and expansion planning once your trees reach peak productivity, typically around Year 7 to 10.

10. Intercropping and Diversification (Year 1-4)

How:

  • During the early years, you can plant short-term crops such as maize, cassava, or vegetables between the rows of oil palm trees. This provides an income stream while waiting for the trees to mature.

Why:

  • Intercropping helps generate revenue to cover operational costs and keeps the soil fertile through crop rotation.

When:

  • Intercropping is most effective during the first 4 years when the oil palm trees are still young and do not require much space.

Conclusion

Starting and managing a successful oil palm plantation requires careful planning and timely execution of the various procedures outlined above. By following these practical steps, you can ensure that your oil palm trees grow into high-yielding, healthy plants, offering you sustainable returns for decades. From land selection to transplanting, irrigation, and eventually harvesting, each phase plays a crucial role in achieving long-term success in the oil palm business.

4 thoughts on “Part 2: Everything you need to know Before starting oil palm(Practical steps to take)

  1. Moses Wilson Paygar says:

    Thank you guys for this great improvement but on behalf of the local farmers in Liberia, I am kindly asking the executive of this platform to supply us with fertilizer and chemical.
    Thank

    1. Green Hybrid Empire says:

      What type of fertilizer do you need?

  2. Emmanuel Ogoh says:

    Thanks so much for the info. However, I have a concern with the spacing. Land is scarce in my locality as such optimal use is encouraged. Is there any harm if spacing is reduced to 6 meters?

    1. Green Hybrid Empire says:

      Reducing the space It is very detrimental to the crop

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