Unlocking economic constraints thro Oil Palm cultivation

PLANTATION crops such as oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), tea (Camellia sinensis), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and coconut (Cocos nucifera) play an important role in global agriculture.

- BY PROFESSOR I.R. PALIHAKKARA AND W.M.T. UTHPALA

These crops contribute significantly to food security, economic growth and employment. These crops are mainly grown in tropical regions. Oil palm is the world's most productive oil seed crop, supplying a large proportion of the global vegetative oil demand. Oil palm can yield about five times more oil than alternative crops grown for vegetable oil. Oil palm cultivation in Sri Lanka is mainly carried out in the southern province, which receives more than 3000mm of rainfall annually, and in the southern province Galle, Matara, Western province, Kalutara and Sabaragamuwa province, Kegalle districts.

The environmental conditions suitable for oil palm cultivation in Sri Lanka are a temperature of 24-32C, more than 2000mm of rainfall and more than 5 hours of sunlight per day. Oil palm cultivation was first established in the Nakiyadeniya Estate in the Galle District and later in the Galle, Matara and Kalutara Districts by removing marginal rubber and tea plantations that had reached the end of their economiclife and establishing oil palm cultivation through the concept of crop diversification. At present it has now spread to the Ratnapura and Kegalle districts as well. High productivity and lower in the number of workers required and the increasing demand as a raw material for some of the daily needed products for humans are the main reasons for demanding this cultivation. At present Sri Lanka is not self-sufficient in edible oil production and spends a considerable amount of money to import edible oil to the country.