SMALLHOLDERS in OILPAM PNG

Currently, there are approximately 21,123 smallholder blocks under three (3) different schemes, namely the Land Settlement Scheme (LSS), Village Oil Palm (VOP), and Customary Rights Purchase (CRP). Altogether, smallholder blocks cover 66,519 hectares which is equivalent to 39% of total land used for oil palm cultivation. The remaining 61% is operated by the plantations.

Plantations dominate production, contributing to approximately two-thirds of the total production (yielding an average 20 - 30 tonnes/ha) whilst one-third comes from smallholders (yielding an average 15 - 17 tonnes/ha).

There are other oil palm projects established under the Forestry Act 1992 for agriculture purposes through Forest Clearance Authority and a land access arrangement through the Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL). The main projects under these arrangements are the oil palm projects in Gazelle and Pomio (East New Britain), Bewani (West Sepik), and Turubu (East Sepik). There are other proposed projects under the SABL arrangements which have not progressed and were rather devised as a mechanism for log harvest and export. There are also new projects being undertaken by NBPOL in Madang as part of the Ramu Agri Industries and the Markham plains.

SMALLHOLDERS Blocks

Land and Oil Palm cultivation