OIL PALM PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA - A CASE STUDY OF ABIA STATE
Keywords:
Oil palm, plantations, management. fruit production, productivity.Abstract
An assessment of oil palm plantations in Abia State of Nigeria was carried out in this study. It was revealed that majority of the plantations (88%) were in the small-scale group with 67.5% acquiring land through inheritance. Most of the plantations (about 76%) were generally old. Cost of establishment and maintenance depends on plantation size. Plantation maintenance is carried out haphazardly. Harvesting and haulage of fruit is not standardized. However, majority of' the plantations are closer to the mills. Despite the inadequate management practices, oil palms was adjudged to be more profitable than other crops grown in the State. Intervention plans featuring acquisition and planting of improved seeds/ seedlings, best plantation management practices (in terms of maintenance, harvesting and haulage of fruit) as well as introduction of organized plantation schemes are proposed.
