Pickup delays affecting oil palm farmers

Oil Palm small holder farmers in the Hoskins Project area have raised concerns about the way New Britain Palm Oil Limited [NBPOL] is operating especially, in regards to the transportation of their crops to the company mills.

They say the delays in company trucks picking up their crops and transporting them to the mills is affecting their livelihoods as when these delays happen, crops lose quality and often results in farmers getting paid less for their hard work.

Sarakolok Oil Palm Land Settlement Scheme [LSS] community leader and former Mosa Local Level Government President, Dacca Wagai has come forward to raise these concerns on behalf of the LSS Small holder farmers.

Mr Wagai said under the current management of NBPOL, crops are not picked up on time and farmers often have to wait for three to four weeks, after harvesting, to have their produce picked up and transported to the mills.

"Oil Palm is the main source of income for all LSS communities and these delays are contributing to many social problems as people resort to other measures to make money and support their livelihoods," Mr. Wagai said.

Mr Wagai further highlighted that there are instances also where company drivers are doing selective pick-ups only for certain farmers, while others produce are not picked up even though they are in the same LSS area.

He also called on the mouthpiece of the growers, the Hoskins Oil Palm Growers Association or HOPGA to get its act together and start raising these issues with NBPOL.

Meanwhile, NBC News has been reliably informed that the company is now implementing a back up plan to address the issue of slow pick ups of crops.