Maksam Tayeng

PASIGHAT, Sep 28: All Arunachal Pradesh Oil Palm Farmers’ Association (AAPOPFA) in its 2nd general body meeting raised concern at the prospects of oil palm cultivation in the state citing apathy by both the government and companies involved.
The meeting held at Siang Guest House, Pasighat on Saturday was attended by oil palm farmers from East Siang district and other district unit office bearers from across the state. Several farmers aired their concern in growing oil palm and selling it to companies and low rate of the produce. They also were wary over the influx of non-APST from neighbouring Assam and other parts by taking land on lease for 50-60 years for said cultivation.
Addressing the media later, AAPOPFA General Secretary, Tana Jasap said that the oil palm growers in the state are facing several key issues which need to be addressed by the government and the 3F company and others supposed to buy the oil palm produce from the farmers and process it on time to avoid loss of weight of fresh fruit bunch (FFB). Due to delay in processing and keeping the FFB in the factory for longer periods the weight of the fruits gets reduced which is a huge loss for the farmers.
“Oil Palm farmers in the state are having concern on the low fresh fruit bunch prices and we request the state government to review the rate so that farmers do not end up with huge losses, as there has been several investments in cultivating the plant. We are also requesting the state government to let the oil palm factory at IGC Niglok near Ruksin (Patanjali Foods Ltd) to start operating which is nonfunctional due to non availability of electricity. We also request the fellow Arunachalees, especially at Namsai area not to give their lands to non APST for lease to cultivate oil palm, as it will be a loss for the other fellow Arunachalee growers,” added Tana Jasap.
President, Hormin Camdir Teli said also flagged concern regarding collection centre, staring “as companies are not collecting the produce from the field, the delivered produce is left in open areas for days which is a kind of harassment to the farmers.” 
The Govt. of India has introduced oil palm plantation schemes in India to start producing palm oil in India to benefit the farmers of the country instead of spending huge money (nearly Rs. 60,000 to 70,000 crores) in procuring palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia under National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm. 
“We have also heard that the government of India provides huge funds for oil palm farmers, but those funds are said to be misused by government officials. Those officials will not be spared if they continue to scam the government funds meant for the oil palm farmers,” added Teli.
With the oil palm Fresh Fruit bunch (FFB) prices showing a declining trend across the country, farmers of the state are becoming restless.The FFB that fetched over Rs.18,000 per ton some years ago, now commands a price of only Rs.13,700 per ton. Any further drop in the prices would leave the farmers at crossroads, as the oil palm is a perennial crop with a life cycle of over 25 years. Given the huge investments involved they cannot be expected to switch over to other crops overnight. The agriculture department has identified approximately 1.26 lakh hectares in East Siang, Lower Siang, Kamle, Papumpare, Pakke Kessang, Lower Dibang Valley, Namsai, Tirap and Changlang for oil palm cultivation across the state.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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