Sri Kumar consulted to steer oil palm industry in Sri Lanka
S. Sri Kumar (centre) at a local oil palm nursery
The Sri Lankan government has turned to some of its local experts to reposition a long foregone and controversial crop – oil palm – for cultivation in the country as a lucrative venture with advice sought from one of the pioneers involved in introducing it here, S. Sri Kumar.
Returning home in 1985 after a period of eight years in Malaysia on oil palm plantations, Mr. Kumar commenced work to begin cultivation of the crop in 1985 in Nakiyadeniya in the south as a consultant.
Causing confusion and controversy over the commercially lucrative crop, Mr. Kumar was instrumental in introducing the cultivation techniques and propagation of the seeds
“I stayed on the estate with the Manager for a period of two weeks, and trained the workers, staff and executives, in various aspects of oil palm cultivation, which includes harvesting, pollinating, etc. My training was in Sinhala and literally under the oil palm tree. At the end of my two weeks stay at Nakiyadeniya I had a further training programme for all the Managers/Assistant Managers, and the four Range Directors at the Walahanduwa Training Centre,” Mr. Kumar explained.
His career in the plantation industry that spans over a period of 50 years includes eight years spent in Malaysia since 1981 as the General Manager of a large oil palm plantation managed by Sime Darby. Today with the tea and rubber industries taking a dip in terms of price and crop there does not seem to be any improvement in these commodities, Mr. Kumar observed.
He pointed out that Malaysia and Indonesia had created success stories from oil palm cultivation where almost 2.3 million hectares were allocated for this crop.
The government here has approved 20,000 hectares to be used for oil palm cultivation in the country from the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) that require diversification of crop in order to make gains on the plantations.
Mr. Kumar dismissed allegations of this crop bringing about an imbalance in the water tables and possibilities of an “environmental hazard”.
In fact, locals at the time had termed it the “yakshayage wagawa” or devil’s crop, which Mr. Kumar blames on uneasiness among Sri Lankans to change from the traditional crop cultivation.
However, RPCs today have diversified into oil palm like Agalawatte, Kotagala, Elpitiya and Namunukula.
Mr. Kumar’s experience in the field had given Sri Lanka the opportunity to adopt the most important breakthrough into natural pollination without the use of women (as pollinators) in this work by introducing weevils, a type of beetle that is herbivorous.
Seeds were brought down from Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Indonesia and were planted in a two stage nursery established at Habaragada estate in Pitigala as a requirement for quarantine to inspect it for any insect attacks that could have an adverse impact on other crops.
Though a lucrative venture, Mr. Kumar noted that the present climatic conditions of the El Nino effect which would become severe after June would create a difficult situation to cultivate this crop that thrives in wet weather conditions.
Mr. Kumar was also involved in introducing “gold poles” to harvest the crop from tall palms over 35-40 feet in height.
His career has found him in key positions, appointed as director of the State Plantation Corporation for the Nuwara Eliya Board with 22 estates.
He was also director at Watawala Plantations and Group HR Director for Sunshine Holdings and later left the industry in 2011. He is currently attached to the Employer Federation of Ceylon as a Consultant for plantation services.