Nagaland farmers ditch oil palm over missing buyers, water woes

TL;DR

Nagaland Oil Palm Reluctance: Farmers in Ruchan village discard oil palm kernels due to absent buyers despite eight years of growth.
Area Expansion: Oil palm cultivation grew from 140 hectares in 2015 to 5,423 hectares now, after prior MoU termination.
Water Challenges: Uneven rainfall, floods, and droughts make high-water needs of oil palm unfeasible without irrigation.

The story at a glance

Farmers in Nagaland's Wokha district, like Tsenchamo Mozhui and Yibemo Khenchung, planted oil palm eight years ago on promises of high payouts and factories, but no buyers emerged after a prior MoU ended. New MoUs with Godrej Agrovet and Patanjali under the 2021 National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) aim to expand cultivation on 15,000 hectares of wasteland with price protections. This is reported now amid recent company deals and ongoing farmer frustration with water shortages from uneven rainfall and floods.

Key points

Oil palm area in Nagaland rose from 140 hectares in 2015 to 5,423 hectares, driven by government schemes.
A 2015 MoU with Shivasais Oil Palm Private Limited for procurement in Mokokchung and Wokha ended in 2022 without a processing unit.
Godrej Agrovet signed an MoU in January 2023 for Peren, Chumukedima, Dimapur, Niuland, and Wokha; Patanjali in February for Mokokchung, Longleng, and Mon.
NMEO-OP splits cultivation costs 90:10 between Centre and State, with viability gap funding against international price swings.
Oil palm needs 2,500-4,000 mm yearly rainfall evenly or 200-300 litres per tree daily; Nagaland faces floods, dam releases, and post-monsoon droughts.
In 2018, Doyang river floods damaged 300 acres in Ruchan, submerging oil palm; 2021 drought cut rice output 70% statewide.
Experts like Professor Tongpang Longkumer warn oil palm could consume scarce arable land in hilly Nagaland.

Details and context

Ruchan village sits on undulating terrain near Doyang river streams, prone to floods from heavy rains and dam releases—21 heavy rain days in 2018 alone dumped a month's water in one go. Farmers planted oil palm saplings with Rs.10 government aid, expecting Rs.100 per kg if factories arrived, but kernels now rot or feed rodents; fronds serve only as firewood or fences.

Water scarcity hits hard after September, dropping water tables without irrigation; farmers skip winter paddy due to absent rain. A prior "Mini Mission" distributed saplings, but procurement failed. Godrej runs Mizoram's only regional processing unit; new Nagaland MoUs require buying from existing and new plantations, delayed by COVID-19 per programme officer Ronchamo Kikon.

Farmers reject "wasteland" label for their land, having planted for profit, not idleness. Government eyes foothills for expansion, but locals prioritize local woes over global prices.

Key quotes

“Tsenchamo Mozhui: “I planted about 100 saplings of oil palms. We were given Rs.10 per sapling by the agricultural department. They told us that if a factory comes up in the region, we might earn Rs.100 for a kilogram of oil palm. But we have been throwing palm kernels away.””

“Yibemo Khenchung: “What is the point of raising these trees if the fruits are of no use?””

Why it matters

Nagaland's push for oil palm under national schemes risks food security and land use in a hilly state with scarce arable land and erratic weather. Farmers face wasted investments and unreliable yields without processing units or irrigation, undermining scheme promises. Watch if Godrej and Patanjali build facilities and procure existing crops, as delays could deepen reluctance.

What changed

Before 2022, Nagaland had a MoU with Shivasais Oil Palm for procurement in Mokokchung and Wokha after distributing saplings under the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm. The MoU terminated that year without a processing unit, leaving farmers without buyers. New 2023 MoUs with Godrej Agrovet and Patanjali cover clusters under NMEO-OP.

FAQ

Q: Why are Nagaland farmers discarding oil palm kernels?

A: No buyers exist after a promised factory failed to materialize under a terminated 2015 MoU with Shivasais Oil Palm. Farmers like Mozhui and Khenchung planted 100 saplings each expecting Rs.100 per kg, but kernels now rot or feed rodents. New MoUs with Godrej and Patanjali are not yet procuring.

Q: What water challenges do oil palm trees face in Ruchan?

A: Trees need 200-300 litres daily or evenly distributed 2,500-4,000 mm yearly rain, but Ruchan gets floods like 2018's 21 heavy days and post-September droughts. Lowland plantings wash away; slopes yield little fruit. No irrigation forces reliance on drying ponds.

Q: How has oil palm area changed in Nagaland?

A: It grew from 140 hectares in 2015 to 5,423 hectares now under government missions. Plans target 15,000 hectares of foothills wasteland via NMEO-OP. Past expansion followed sapling distribution, but procurement failed.

Q: What do new company MoUs promise?

A: Godrej Agrovet handles one cluster, Patanjali the other, with duties to procure from standing and new plantations. NMEO-OP offers 90:10 cost split and viability gap funding against crude palm oil price fluctuations. Implementation delayed by COVID-19.

TL;DR

Nagaland Oil Palm Reluctance: Farmers in Ruchan village discard kernels after eight years without buyers despite government promises.
Expansion to 5,423 ha: Cultivation grew from 140 ha in 2015, but prior MoU terminated without processing unit.
Uneven Rainfall Key Issue: High water needs unmet by floods, droughts, hindering yields on hilly terrain.

The story at a glance

In Nagaland's Wokha district, farmers like Tsenchamo Mozhui planted oil palm on agricultural department promises of factories and Rs.100/kg payouts, but kernels go unsold after a company MoU ended. Recent MoUs with Godrej Agrovet and Patanjali under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) divide the state into clusters for expansion. Reported amid 2023 deals, it highlights clashes between national edible oil goals and local water extremes.