Hike in palm oil production to help uplift Pinoy farmers

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Palm Oil Council Inc.,(PPOCI)  has urged the government to include palm oil production as one of its priorities, as it is seen to help uplift the lives of Filipino farmers.

PPOCI board of director Pablito B. Pamplona made this statement following the foreseen growth of palm oil in the world market.

The Philippines has close to a million hectares of farm lands that are identified to have fertile soil to grow palm trees. However, only 170,000 hectares are only utilized for palm tree plantation.

Compared to coconut, palm produce high yielding oil production, four times than that of coconut, Besides, palm is easy to grow and can be planted in areas where many of the crops cant grow.

"Palm oil production/farming is not in the radar of the Philippine government, "Pamplona said adding that the government is more focus on supporting other crops like rice, corn and coconut.

Two years ago, the Philippines was importing P25 billion of palm oil. In the next ten years the demand is expected to double, while the Philippine population is seen to grow to 120 million.

There are only 10 palm oil milling plants in the Philippines, and their production can not accommodate the increasing demand for the product in the country, Pamplona said.

Although coconut production is still considered to have big potential to improve the earnings of the farmers, he said virigin coconut oil produced in the Philippines is positioned to be marketed in higher value products in the world market, not oil as cooking oil, also in other by-products suchs as food supplements, beauty, among others.

"There are vast grass lands in the Philippines that are idle. We have to maximize these lands because these are ideal lands for palm oil production," said Pamplona.

He stressed that the industry is needing support from the government to encourage more farmer to engage in palm tree farming.

On their own, PPOCI a private organization is doing its part in promoting the expansion of palm tree farming especially in Mindanao to alleviate poverty in different part ps of the region.

The development of palm production in the country is given under the management of the Philippine Coconut Authority. Last year though, PCA injected a little fund to improve the production capacity, but he said its not enough to catch up with the demand, as well as accelarating the expansion of the farm lands.

Recently, Malaysia-based cooking brand--Saji, which is exclusively distributed by Intisari Mulia International Inc., (IMI) made its intensive promotion of using palm vegetable oil for its high health benefit.

Malaysia is one of the largest palm oil producers in Asia, together with Indonesia and Thailand.

The brand was introduced in the Philippines last year, making Cebu as its launching ground.

IMI general manager Enrico T. Escudero said the product is gaining momentum and it is positioned to enter the Luzon market next year.

In the food industry, palm oil is used as a cooking oil and shortening and in the manufacture of margarine, non-dairy creamers and ice cream. It is also used in products where animal fats are unacceptable on religious grounds.

Palm oil has a high resistance to oxidation and therefore a long shelf life. These properties make it particularly suitable for use in hot climates and as a frying fat in the snack and fast food industry.

Traditionally, the main non-food uses for palm oil have been in the manufacture of soaps and detergents and in the production of greases, lubricants and candles.

More recently, the biofuels market has provided a significant new non-food use for palm oil where it is used as the feedstock for the production of biodiesel and as an alternative to mineral oils for use in power stations. The fatty acid derivatives of palm oil are used in the production of bactericides, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and water-treatment products. (FREEMAN)