A Virtual Meeting was held on 19 August, organized by the Kezekevi Thehou Ba (KTB or Peace Morung), a Nagaland-based organization, in response to a “missing link” in the oil palm expansion in India’s Northeast. The objective of the meeting was to raise awareness and facilitate informed decisions regarding the cultivation of oil palm in the Northeast region.
During the meeting, it was observed that several MoUs were signed with private companies like Godrej’s ‘Agrovet’, Patanjali’s ‘Ruchi Soya’, and 3F in the NE India region. The meeting also expressed concerns over ecological impact in the biodiverse region.
Notably, it was observed that expansion of palm oil cultivation in Nagaland grew from 140 hectares in 2015 to 4,623 hectares by March 2021.
The Virtual Meeting was attended by more than 60 individuals including community leaders and experts, including from remote areas. The meeting discussion focused on previously “untold” facts about oil palm cultivation.
India’s Palm Oil Context
It was highlighted that India is the world’s largest importer of palm oil, with 99% imported mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, with an import bill of over Rs 1.50 lakh crores.
The meeting also mentioned the Indian Government’s push for domestic production under the National Mission on Edible Oil–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), targeting Northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Ecological Concerns
The meeting saw the push for palm oil cultivation as a threat to three global biodiversity hotspots in the Indian subcontinent, including danger to forests crucial for biodiversity, climate resilience, indigenous cultures, and livelihoods.
It was also suggested that conservation scientists insist these areas should be no-go for oil palm cultivation.
Plantation Prevalence
Oil palm plantations were already found to be present in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Nagaland while Mizoram has been targeting seven districts since 2004.
Areas of Concern Discussed
It was discussed that oil palm cultivation would leave a negative impact on natural resources, land use, biodiversity, and economy of the region. It was observed that oil palm cultivation entails heavy water requirements which would have adverse impacts on water quality and quantity.
It was also observed that oil palm cultivation would give rise to issues with land ownership, rights, and change in land tenure from community-owned to privately-held. Further, it was observed that oil palm cultivation would leave a devastating impact on biodiversity in its aftermath, including food security, potential negative impact on local food diversity, and forest products.
Instances of zero profit, failed promises, alarming effects on small farmers and community land management were also feared.
Other Considerations
Further, it was observed that oil palm cultivation would entail high use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and possible conversion of tea plantations to palm oil, as well as potential change in land ownership patterns with the entry of private companies.
It also feared the risk of all available water resources being channeled for large plantations, disadvantaging small landowners.
In Northeast India, it observed that Meghalaya is the only state to have rejected oil palm cultivation by paying heed to its farmers’ suggestions. Villages resisted the lure of this new crop cultivation because it could undermine the means to live on their own land. In the Khasi Hills for instance, farmers then argued that they preferred areca nut farming over oil palm cultivation.
“A back-of-the-envelope calculation showed that the profit margins were higher for areca nut farms (Rs 1.8 lakh/ha) as compared to oil palm (up to Rs 1.2 lakh/ha). In the Garo hills, farmers said they earn better with other crops that are native to their region, including indigenous oil-bearing trees,” it was observed.
The meeting shared multifaceted concerns on oil palm cultivation in the Northeast region, and the potential impact on ecology, economy, land ownership, and community welfare, particularly in the state of Nagaland.
In his closing remarks, Niketu Iralu, the Chairman of KTB, said that a good beginning had been made with the virtual meeting. He stressed that communities need access to information that enables them to make informed decisions about management of their land and natural resources for a sustainable future. KTB supports an ongoing dialogue on the issue that has far-reaching ramifications on the region’s fragile ecosystem and biodiversity, he said.