Oil Palm farmer appeals to Govt to assist industry

By PETER ESILA
A LOCAL oil palm farmer says the Government must help smallholder farmers benefit more from the oil palm industry.
Steven Topiam, from Bali Island in Talasea, West New Britain, with his wife Kekele, from Bialla, have a one hectare block outside Bialla.
Topiam has been farming the block for nearly five years after buying it for K1,500 from the previous owner.
He said farming oil palm enabled him to provide for his family, including daughters Stacey, 3, and one-year-old Helly.
Topiam said working in the block was hard but one needed to earn something to survive.
He said the Government needed to look at the industry and support it by making sure the smallholders got more benefits.
Oil Palm Industry Corporation acting general secretary Kepson Pupita said for every K1 per tonne of oil palm the milling company received 43 toea and this had been the price formula for many years.
“It’s big work and small money, if they (farmers) get the maximum price entitled, they will be happy, because every smallholder block is owned by two or three families,” he said.
“If they get the full or 70 to 80 per cent of the price, they will be okay. On top of that, K50 to K60 is paid as transport fees when the company comes and picks it up.”