KARACHI (March 22 2004): Mirpursakro, Ghora Ban, Keti Bandar, Kharo Chhan, Jati, Shah Bandar, Sujawal and Mirpur Bathoro of district Thatta and Talhar, S.F. Rahu (Golarchi); Math, and Tando.

Bago of District Badin along with Malir and coastal areas of Karachi district are most suitable for oil palm cultivation.

This observation was made by the Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) of Task Force Committee set-up to boost oil palm cultivation in the coastal areas of Sindh, after a visit to the districts of Thatta, Badin and Karachi.

The task in hand had been undertaken by Sindh Coastal Development Authority (SCDA) as experts felt that coastal belt of Sindh, especially of Thatta and Badin districts; are most suitable for oil palm plantation and efforts need to be taken in hand to slash the ever increasing import bill of edible oil.

Pakistan Imports 1.40 million metric tonnes of edible oil annually at a cost of Rs 50 billion, second only to petroleum products. The edible oil requirement of Pakistan is more than 2 million metric tonnes per annum, whereas local production is only 0.634 million metric tonnes per year.

Most of the local production of edible oil is derived from cottonseed. In terms of percentage, the local production is only 30 percent and 70 percent edible oil is imported every year. Due to increase in population, edible oil requirement is also increasing by 6 to 8 percent per annum.

In Pakistan per capital consumption of edible oil is about 12 kgs, which is much higher as compared to other countries like India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The TSC is carrying out studies as situation of edible oil is not justified for a country like Pakistan to whom nature has provided tremendous potential for oilseeds cultivation in the plains as well as in coastal areas of Pakistan.

oil palm is a viable oilseed crop for the economic development of Pakistan as it produces 2 metric tonnes oil from one acre.

The TSC reported that 64 Tenera plants at spacing of 25 ft in a square system with 2 gallon water upto one year and 4 gallon water upto two years after one year of field plantation shall do the job.

Irrigation after 3 to 4 days upto maturity ie 8th year of plantation would result in 12 to 15 Fresh Fruit Bundles (FFB) per year having l5Kg/FFB having oil content of 20 to 25 percent. As such, oil yield per acre shall be 2 tons, resulting in income of Rs 70,000 per year @ Rs 35,000 per tonne price of oil.

There shall a saving of Rs 57,500 after deducting expenditure of Rs 10, 500, the TSC reported.

The TSC recommended that inter-cropping shall be necessary to generate income till the plants starts producing fresh Fruit Bunches so that expenses on oil palm plantation may be covered during the initial years of growth of oil palm.

Inter-cropping has to be done between two rows of palms with banana; papaya, fodders, vegetable crops, sugarcane, wheat and barley.

The TSC worked out the cost of production per acre per year of banana as Rs 15,000 with a return of Rs 40.000 per year; papaya Rs 12,000 and Rs 24,000; fodder Rs 6,000 and Rs 12,000; vegetables Rs 7,000 and Rs 15,000; and sugarcane Rs 8,00 and Rs 20,000 respectively.

Courtesy Business Recorder