Nagaland lacks oil palm processing mill

Despite 5,423 ha area being under oil palm cultivation and presence of 1.204 oil palm growers, not a single oil palm processing mill has been set up in the State to date.
Nagaland has to rely on Godrej Agrovet Pvt Ltd’s (GAVL) processing mill at Kolasib in Mizoram, close to Silchar, while Patanjali has started their groundwork for setting up a mill at Niglok Industrial Growth Centre in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district.
Being perishable, the produce has to be processed within 48 hours of harvesting to prevent it from deteriorating and accumulating harmful fatty acids.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) officer Ronchamo Kikon acknowledged that palm oil cultivation was expanding in the Northeast.
He disclosed that the State had entered into agreement with GAVL on Jan 19, as a result of which two oil palm nurseries had come up in Jalukie (six ha) and Nuiland (six ha), while Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali signed an MoU on Jan 31 for setting up two units in Tizit (10 ha) and Tuli (four ha). He said Zone I (Peren, Chümoukedima, Dimapur, Niuland and Wokha districts) produces were sent to Kolasib and Zone II (Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts) to East Siang.
In accordance with the operational guidelines for oil palm, he claimed that all the growers were being provided support for installation of micro irrigation system as “Per Drop More Crop” initiative. He said quality was being constantly monitored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (ICAR-IIOPR).
He also disclosed that intercropping was yet to be introduced even after eight years since the cultivation began in the State.
Under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), Nagaland’s oil palm journey began with plantation in over 140 ha area in 2015-16 and now covers 5,423 ha, while the aim is for 15,000 ha.
First oil palm MoU cancelled: Kikon disclosed that Andhra Pradesh-based M/s Shivasais Oil Palm Pvt Ltd had failed to establish collection centres within the designate clusters for buying fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) from the farmers before setting up a mill.
He said the company had failed to pay the farmers for the gathered fruits and the mill in accordance with the MoU signed in 2014.
Farmers lose confidence
Tsenchamo Mozhui from Ruchan village in Wokha district revealed that he had been cultivating oil palm for six-seven years over two full pura of land. But, he lamented that despite the trees beginning to bear fruits, there was no indication of any buyer. As a result, he said the fruits eventually over ripened and fell off, their labour and resources thereby resulting in a waste.
Mozhui mentioned that there was huge requirement for water in the plantation. But, despite the village being close to Doyang river, he said getting water to the plants from the source was difficult. Hence, he pointed out that the farmers had to fetch it for themselves.
Sosang from Wamaken village in Mokokchung told this correspondent that he had been growing oil palm since 2018 over four acres of land. He alleged that some of the trees were cut down with JCB and a portion of his land was being used for a plywood mill because the State government was unable to bring any kind of ‘mill or company’ to the people. He also revealed that although Patanjali had interacted with them in April, he expressed doubts whether they would be able to get a good price.
Doyapur resident Hamjem began his plantation in 2017 with 200 saplings over two bigas, though only 150 were standing due to rodent infestation. He said though the growers were paid Rs 4.500-5,000 for maintenance, the fruits were left to waste with no sign of marketing. He disclosed that with the increase in weed infestation, he had also applied for equipment to clear the fields.
Implementing agencies’ obligation
Chief Conservator of Forest Supongnukshi claimed that it was the obligation of the implementing agencies to ensure that locals were aware of the benefits and drawbacks of the plantation.
Expressing concern over the loss of biodiversity due to monoculture farming, he alleged that the implementing agencies did not create awareness among the people who took up oil palm plantation.