Vol. 11, Special Issue 2 (2022)

Author(s):
Dr. IV Srinivasa Reddy and Dr. A Meena

Abstract:
Oil palm is a perennial oilseed tree which can fix carbon continuously unlike the annual crops which have lesser duration to fix carbon and land be left fallow for some period. Moreover, increased cost of cultivation and more risk due to biotic and abiotic factors coupled with lesser labour availability are forcing the farmer to resort to perennial crops. Agriculture College, Aswaraopeta of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University, Telangana, is growing oil palm for Research and Demonstration to the farmers besides collaborating with the oil palm Factory and Nursery of T.S. Co-operative oil seeds Growers federation located adjacent/in the vicinity. The comparative study of oil palm growing in Aswaraopeta (Telangana) and Eluru (Andhra Pradesh) divisions revealed that location are not significantly differing as they are adjoining districts of Bhadradri Kothagudem of Telangana and West Godavari of Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, over the period of five years trends of oil palm production has been not significantly differing. Nevertheless, the yield from younger trees (five to eight years old) has been increasing significantly while that of older trees declining gradually necessitating cutting the old trees and grow new plantation in future. However, care should be taken to avoid deforestation and preserve biodiversity.