Palm a promising, alternative crop for farmers

Owing to unstable market price, many farmers have strated showing inclination towards growing palm.

In fact, palm is considered as golden crop and farmers have started growing it in many places. With the high yield, it has become a promising crop for the farmers. Palm fruits are used for oil and other purposes. The maintenance of the plants too are easy.

Palm Tech India Ltd has undertaken development of palm in Kodagu, Mysore, Mandya and Hassan districts. Those farmers who took part in the awareness campaign by the Palm Tech India Ltd have started showing inclination towards palm.

Palm saplings are supplied from Kabini nursery of horticulture department. Along with supplying free saplings, farmers are given pesticides and fertilisers at subsidised rates.

It starts bearing fruits within four years of planting. At present, since there is wide demand for palm oil in the world market, the farmers who are growing palm can fetch profit.

Palm grows in clusters. Each cluster wighs upto 60 kgs. If the plants are maintained, then one can fetch profit.

Once the plant starts bearing fruit, for every 15 days, one can pluck and sell the fruit. In fact, Palm Tech has started a palm fruit processing unit in Kabini horticulture nursery. Barring long rainy season, plant bears fruit throughout the year. The farmers on the banks of river Cauvery have already started growing palm.

Even heavy rains do not harm the plants. However, the shortage of labourers have hit the palm fields in the region. The plucking of the fruit is a difficult job. Even the bandicoots attack the plants and destroy its fronds.

In Bolibane, farmers have started growing palm in paddy fields. Palm can be an alternative crop for those who have incurred loss in paddy.