Palm oil potential seen in BARMM, 800K hectares identified

The Philippine Palm Oil Development Council, Incorporated (PPDCI) has identified the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as suitable for oil palm plantations.

“With so much land available, we don’t have to go far. Even around BARMM, which is suitable for oil palms, we have identified around 800,000 hectares,” PPDCI president Erwin Anthony Garcia said during the culmination of the 13th Palm Oil Congress here Thursday.

Garcia said the Philippines relies heavily on palm oil demand from the neighboring nations of Indonesia and Malaysia, with our country importing 1.2 million metric tons (MT) of palm oil products last year.

“This trend underscores the urgency to wrap up our local production capacity and reduce our independence on external sources. This 1.2 million MT is equivalent to an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 hectares of plantation,” he said.

Garcia’s group aims to plant palm oil trees on 5,000 hectares of land this year and improve the country’s around 100,000 hectares of oil palm farms.

“Last year, we successfully planted an estimated 2,000 hectares of new planting in various areas of the country. This ambitious target underscores our commitment to rejuvenating our industry and addressing the challenges of aging oil palm trees,” he added.

Garcia urged the government to recognize the immense potential of the oil palm sector as a powerful tool in eradicating poverty and insurgency within the countryside.

As a response, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno committed to advocating for the palm oil industry, assuring stakeholders with the Department of Agriculture (DA) support to bolster the sector’s development.

“I will meet with the DA to discuss the possible assistance the government can extend to your industry,” he said in a statement.

Magno underscored the palm oil industry’s potential to lift the Philippines from a minor to a major player, despite its ranking 16th among global producers.

“The potential is clear. We can increase the industry’s yield if we optimize our advantages in good agro-climatic conditions and rich human resources,” he said.

Tags: oil palm, demand, Plantations, The Philippine Palm Oil Development Council, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Indonesia, Production, Malaysia, palm oil