ESTATES AND MANAGEMENT


BAI ESTATE



The Estate is found in Soke. It is headed by an Estate Manager. The Estate grows oil palm and rubber. Latex gotten from rubber is transported and sold to C.D.C. Mokonge and FFB transported to Lobe Estate for processing.

Bai Nursery

The Nursery consist of coconut/rubber seedlings. The nursery is a multiplication nursery where good material clones are reserved. Clone materials include; pb 260, pb 217, pb 235 pr 107 and GT1. GT1 clone material is used as a root stock for cross breeding. Budded materials or seedlings are transplanted in the field after 8-12 months in the nursery. Budding of rubber is by patch technique.
Characteristics of root stock for cloning
  • Resistance to pest and diseases
  • Resistance to wind breakage
  • Good quality latex and latex flow
  • Efficient nutrient and water up take and absorbtion.

Rubber Tapping

Mature rubber for tapping covers an area of 240hectare. Tapping and collection of latex may be cup lumps or liquid. Field tapping operations are divided into task. Task are usually 1st day tapping, 2nd day tapping and 3rd day tapping. Trees are tapped every two days with a rest day of 2 days, allowing for first latex tapping collection and weighing. The process is a vicious cycle for routine field operations for tapping. Latex cup lumps is collected in the morning and deposited at collecting post, where they are weighed. Latex cup lumps delayed in the field reduces weight and quality, hence, reduction in market price and great economic loss to the Company. Tapping is usually done in the morning as from 6:00a.m. to 10:00 a.m. A tapper is suppose to tape about 750 plants when mature for tapping and 500 plants when big and old. This is due to their girth differences.

A chemical known as Ethrel is used as a stimulant for latex flow, which, increases latex yield/production. A tapping tree back is divided into panel A and B. Application of Ethrel is done a day after tapping period to another tapping exercise after 2days tapping. A tapping marking guide on the back of the tree either A/B, helps guide the tapper against the slope and phylum consumption. Each graduated space on the phylum (back tree) allows the tapper to tappe for 3months. Graduated phylum takes a complete year, with a monthly ratio removal of 2cm chip. Rubber tapping is done ratationally, either opening the front/back for latex. The channel lines on the phylum running vertically downward divides the phylum for tapping either panel A/B or front/back. Tapping of young trees is at 6years after planting in the field. Rubber maybe tapped for rolex replica watches 30years before replanting. Opening of plants for tapping begins when the girth/circumference is 70cm and a height of 150m. Formic acid is used acid during rain tapping to coagulate latex and prevent rain washing of latex from the cups. Latex collection cups are made of alluminium and plastic materials.

Pest and Diseases

  • Root fungi
  • Virus
  • Termites
  • Stem rot

OIL PALM

Harvesting:

Harvesting of ripe bunches is done every 2 weeks. Harvested bunches and loose nuts are transported from the field by workers and oxens to crop post where they are weighed. However, to determined the weight of harvested Bunches in the field, bunches are weighed from different fields and the total weight recorded. The total weight is divided by the total number of bunches harvested on the field to determine the average weight per a bunch.
That is:-
(a) Total wt of FFB harvested = Average bunch wt of The total number of bunches
(b) Average bunch wt x No of FFB = No Tons. knowing the crop tonnage in the field, a request is made to the Transport Officer for allocation of transport to evacuate crops from the field to the mills.

Pruning of Oil Palm

Pruning is a periodic operation twice a year every 5 months. Pruning is done to maintain cleaness of the palms and field. The operation involves, removal of dry fronds hanging vertically from the palm, green broken fronds and parasitic plants such as ferns. Usually one frond is left that which supports a ripe bunch and two fronds that which holds/support the pre-mature bunch prior to harvesting. Excessive spraying of palms may result to flower abortion and low productivity. Pruning of palms starts at the age of 5years.

Weeding:-

Weeding operations are carried out every 6months twice in a year. Weeding is by slashing using a cutlass. Ring weeding is done periodically with herbicides to keep the base of palms clean to ease picking of loose fruits and to avoid weed competition.

Field Routin Operation/Inspection.

This is a daily inspection carried out by the Estate Manager or Field Assistant to enable him evaluate jobs executed in the field, and assign new activities the coming day(s)/ week(s). Field inspection may include harvesting, transportation of FFB, pruning, inter row/weeding, road maintenance etc.

ESTATE MANAGEMENT.

Payment of Salaries and Wages

Workers or employees of Pamol Plantations Plc are categorised into two:-
- Checkroll workers
- Jobbers

Checkroll Workers

These are permanent employees of the Company. Their wages or salaries are paid every last day of the month. They put in 8 working hours a day. They enjoy Company social facilities such as housing, water, electricity; partial health facilities, family allowances etc. Checkroll workers are paid when on Sick Leave, Permision etc. they may be given light jobs to do and may close earlier to have a rest. Data of checkroll employees are computerise. All checkroll employees are insuredby the employer. The checkroll data sheet closes on the 26th of every month and opens on the 27th of the same month.

The Jobber

Jobbers are not permanent workers of the Company but rather contractors of CIGs. They are paid daily base on their out-put or task work executed. Summaries of their daily payments are calculated and paid at the end of the month. They may also enjoy some incentives only when they put extra hours above their task work. Payment of rates to Jobbers/Contractors/CIGs are decided in the Head Office by the General Manager, proposed by the Plantations Manager and communicated to Estates Managers, Field Assistants, Field Officers and others concern for implimentation and payment. However, it should be noted that, rates on plants maintenance in the field differ significantly base on plants ages.

The Voucher

A voucher is a receipt issued to a customer who has executed a job with the Company. The Wages Clerk issues the voucher starting description of work and amount to be paid and signs. The Office Supervisors cross checks and signs the voucher which is then taken to the Manager for approval who gives the last Ok and signs. The customer then takes the voucher to the Head Office for payment. However, before issueing a voucher receipt to a customer, he/she writes an application stating the job(s) he/she executed and the amount due. Vouchers may also be issued by CIG’s Clerk representing contractors/jobbers.
Observation.
  • Plant virus and fungi in the nursery
  • Termites infestion in the Rubber
  • Death of clone materials in the nursery
  • Nutrient difficiency on coconut seedlings
  • Poor accessible roads in Bai Estate
  • Cercospora leaf spot on coconut seedlings
Suggestions.
  • Eradication of virus plants in the nursery to prevent spreading
  • Use of fungicides to control fungus
  • Use of resistant clone materials against fungi and virus
  • Use of soil pesticides to control termites e.g. Rogor 45-M
  • Upgrading and maintenance of roads inBai to ease evacuation of crops

NDIAN ESTATE


The Ndian Nursery.

It covers a surface area of 15 hectares and has about 98.000 oil palm seedlings. It has a pre-nursery and permanent nursery site. It also has a jobber labour force of 90 women who are controlled and supervised by an Overseer.
Establishing a Nursery

Before establishing a large scale nursery or a permanent nursery, the following factors must be considered.

  • Pipes for irrigation must be ready
  • Pits for water collection and storage must be ready
  • Irrigation pumps made available
  • Flat level land with free drainage
  • The soil site chosen must be permable
  • Nursery sites should not be on slopes.

Seedlings in the nursery are raised base on progenies. e.g A7487 WR in the nursery is wilt resistant. Spacing of seedlings is triangular at a distance of 70cm plant to plant and one meter block to block. Seedlings are line out in eight lines with 50 stands per a line makes up a block.

Sowing of Seeds.

Seeds are sowed on filled polythene black bags with rich top soil at 2-3mm deep and adequately watered. The polythene bags are mulched with empty fruit bunches. Seeds for sowing are issued by the Research Department which are treated and certified by the Research Officer.

Watering.

Watering of seedlings is done twice a day. 500ml of water is used in the morning and 500ml in the evening. Workers are task to water 2000 seedlings a day. Buckets and cups are used during watering. Amount of water received by seedlings depends on the leaf stages. That is 1-4 leaf stage, 40mls of water is applied; at 5 leaf stage, 50mls, 6 leaf stage 60mls, 7leaf stage 70mls, 8leaf stage 80mls, until the plant is 9leaf stage when normal watering is recommended.

Fertilization.

Fertilization of seedlings in the nursery is by application of liquid fertilizer from 1-9leaf stage. This requires the use of ammonium of sulphate 14g, muriate of potash 28g and kieserite 14g. This gives 56g. this quantity is mixed in a bucket of 10litres water and applied weekly untill 9leaf stage. At 10leaf stage and above, solid fertilizer mixture of 45g made up of Ammonium of Sulphate, 15g; muriate of potash; 15g and kieserite 15g. this quantity of fertilizer is applied once a month at 5cm radius away from the plant. Watering should be followed immediately after application. Use calibrated cups/measurements for liquid fertilizer application.

Pest and Diseases.

Blast, Cercospora leaf spot Anthracnose Control:- Use of ivory 80 for spraying Pest Snails, Grasshoppers
Control:- Hand picking and pesticides application. Experimental Trials Visited.
  • Field 37: Comperative advantages of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the yield of oil palm on rocky soils of Ndian
  • Field 10: Adaptability and growth of Noun planting materials (oil palm) in Ndian.
  • Field 47/91/3: Trials on vascular wilt resistant on progenices of oil palm
  • The nursery: Determining the effect of cruiser chemical on seed treatment and growth.

LOBE ESTATE


Transport Department:

The transport department is responsible for the allocations and movement of vehicles for evacuation and transportation of Company products from the field to the Mill. This Sector is factorise whereby, vehicles owned by the Company are given out to divoted individuals or drivers who pay 5% of their profit to the Company. Vehicles under this policy are called ‘Seconded Vehicles’. Another policy is the 3rd party; which allows for individuals owning vehicles to render their services to the Company for transportation and evacuation of crops. Vehicles owners are paid by the Company.

The Weighbridge.

The bridge is made of iron steel for weighing of vehicles and crop products both raw and finished materials. There are two weighbridges of 50tons, weighing traillers and small vehicles. Weighing is based on the gross, tare and net weight of the vehicle and crop/products.

Gross Weight:- It is the weight of the vehicle plus the weight of product in the vehicle when weight Tare Weight:- It is the weight of the vehicle when empty. Net Weight:- This is the subtraction of the gross weight from the tare weight. Upon obtaining the net weight a coupon is issued detailing the data or information to the driver.
Field Records.

  • Production
  • Field Yield Data
  • Bunch Census Data
  • Estate Progress Reports

    • Production Data.

    Lobe Estate controls 3 Divisions. These are; Kokundu; 1.456ha, Lipenja 1.355ha, Ngolo Motoko 452ha, making a total of 3263ha. The production data evaluates crop yield per a year depending on the ages of crops/fields. Production yield in a year is divided into mini peak; November to February; peak season, March-June and drought season, July-October. Variation in crop yield in a year depends on Environmental Factors; such as, rainfall, sunlight/radiation, temperature and humility. The production data also enables the Company to determine the average crop yield per a year.
    Field Yield Data:

    It enables the Company to know the number of bunches harvested in a particular field in a month. It also enables the Company to compare the average weight per bunch as well as tons per ha.
    Bunch Census Record:

    Bunch census is done every three months. This is to enable the Company determine the trend of actual yield within 3months. Bunch census is usually carried out in the months of November, February, May and August. During Census, 5 lines of palms are selected randomly in the field using 3-4-5 formular. Lines in the field are marked, 10, 30,50,70, and 90. an exercise book is establish with column and headings as shown below.
    Field No. Bearing Palms Death Palms Total Points Census Ha No of FFB Counted
    No of FFB per Census Ha Total FFB ABW Estimated tons
    Each worker of 5 men takes a line in the field for counting. The yields are collected at the end of the census exercise in a particular field and data recorded. The bunch census exercise takes about 6days to census 3-4fields. A final summary is done by estimating the tonnage in a particular field using the formula:-
    Estimated tons = Total FFB counted = FFBs/ha Census ha = FFB/Ha x Ha of area x ABW= Estimated tons
    Estate Progress Reports.

    This is a summary of activities executed in a month by the Estate. Activities may includes; field maintenance, harvesting cycles, harvesting qualities/labour availability etc.
    Miscelleanous Activities of the Estate.

    • Road Maintenance
    • Fruit Theft Control
    • Bridges Maintenance
    • Meteo.data recording