The Smallholder Oil Palm sector plays a significant role in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Oil Palm Industry, having 35% of the total land area of Oil Palm cultivation in PNG. Among the project sites, the Hoskins Oil Palm project stands out, representing 61.3% of oil palm cultivation within the smallholder sector in the country, underlining the importance of robust institutional support from stakeholders.
Support within the Hoskins Oil Palm project is extended by key stakeholders such as the Oil Palm Industry Cooperation (OPIC), Sime Darby Plantations, Hoskins Oil Palm Growers Association (HOPGA), and the Papua New Guinea Oil Palm Research Association (PNGOPRA), which serves as the industry’s research arm. These stakeholders provide essential assistance in providing technical expertise, facilitating the FFB (Fresh Fruit Bunches) market chain from farms to mills, offering financial assistance, farmer engagements, and advisory services.
An integral part of this support mechanism is the annual collaboration among stakeholders, culminating in farmer events such as field days or other grower meetings. These gatherings serve as platforms for knowledge exchange, addressing block management issues, introducing modern technologies, promoting savings culture, addressing land tenure issues, updating SOPs, compliance with RSPO, and fostering interaction between farmers and researchers.
The establishment of the Field Day Committee early this year signifies a concerted effort by representatives from all stakeholders to review the 2023 field day and plan and execute the annual events for 2024. In 2024, the committee convened three times between February and March to outline the field day programs and finalize grower training schedules.
The theme for the 2024 field day, “Replant for a Secure Future,” highlights the pressing need to address the challenge of aging palms within the project. Through this theme, smallholder growers are to be encouraged to contemplate replanting their oil palm blocks for long-term sustainability.
Furthermore, the committee has earmarked three categories for consolation prizes during the field day events: RSPO (Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil) compliance, Most Improved block, and Innovative Mama. Additionally, stakeholder presentation scripts undergo rigorous review and commentary by the committee to ensure alignment with the objectives of the farmer event and avoid repetition by the other internal stakeholders.
With the finalization of the 2024 field day program, stakeholders are poised to commence its implementation, reaffirming their commitment to the advancement and sustainability of the Smallholder Oil Palm sector within the Hoskins Project.
