National Research Centre for Oil Palm, Pedavegi-534 450, Andhra Pradesh. E-mail: prasadmv05@yahoo.com.
Oil Palm grower is an innovative farmer, who has adopted the crop through motivation from officers, self and neighbour farmers. Majority of them adopted the crop during 1993–98. Took initiative to grow the crop with their own interest, knowledge, skill in initial stages and obtained windfall profits. They took active part in oil palm development programme launched during 1990–91, entered into tripartite agreement and implementation of oil palm act during 1993, took initiatives to become members in PMC & PFC. Formed oil palm growers associations, associated in forming Society for Promotion of Oil Palm Research and Development and become members in it. Availed subsidy programmes introduced by the government of India, through Oil Palm Development Programme. Lessons learnt while raising crop and uprooted the crop due various constraints. During price crises they mobilized the government to introduce Market Intervention Scheme. Negotiated with different agencies for fixing amicable price during 2005. Adopted recommended practices in oil palm either fully or partially and learnt lessons. They have adopted variety of intercrops in juvenile and adult plantations. They have tried the crop in challenging soil and agro climatic conditions. They took help and co-operation from various agencies to adopt the crop and successfully raising the crop in an area of 67,000 ha. While complimenting their role, it is suggested to take up the crop systematically and steadily for sustained & higher production. Farmers and associated agencies need to play vital role to provide full support through public private partnership for oil palm development, increasing socio-economic status of farmers, to lead the country in achieving self sufficiency in vegetable oil production and saving scarce foreign exchange.
