A new oil palm hybrid seed sprout imported by 3F Oil Palm from Malaysia and Costa Rica promises to significantly change the country's oil palm yields. The company, which is one of the top three palm oil producers in the country, claims that the new three-way crossed hybrid could reduce yielding time from 36 months to 24 months.
The long gestation period is one of the most significant barriers to entry for farmers interested in starting a plantation.
As the country embarks on a mission to achieve self-sufficiency in palm oil production, 3F Oil Palm says it plans to cover 5,000-7,500 hectares with the new hybrid saplings. To begin, the company recently distributed saplings to farmers in Andhra Pradesh ahead of the 2022-23 planting season.
"We have reached an agreement with a few players in Malaysia and Costa Rica." "As part of this agreement, our scientists collaborated with them to develop seed sprouts that are suitable for our weather conditions," said Sanjay Goenka, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Oil Palm Limited.
CALIX Q6, the first genetically tested seed produced in Malaysia's oil palm market Sime Darby, is one of the company's new releases. It not only provides yields in 24 months after planting but also lowers maintenance costs and increases yields. It also helps the plants withstand punishing summer temperatures and periods of drought, according to him.
Each hectare would require approximately 140 saplings, each of which would cost approximately $300. "The yield per acre could increase to 17-18 tonnes per acre, up from the current yield of 10 tonnes," Goenka said.
The company, which currently owns 33,000 hectares in various states, intends to expand its holdings to 1.50 lakh hectares. "We will add new acreages every year until we reach 1.50 lakh hectares in the next 5-7 years," he said.
The company is expanding its acreage while also increasing its processing capacity. "In the next two years, we plan to double the processing capacity to 150 tonnes per hour from the current capacity of 75 tonnes per hour," he said.
