PALMYRAH PRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Palmyrah Palm (Borassus flabellifer L) belongs to family Arecaceae and native of tropical
Africa but cultivated throughout India. It is diocious and economically important crop.
Traditionally the different part of the plant such as root, leaves, seed, and fruit are used for
various purposes.

Palm sugar has increasingly become popular in Asian and Western markets in recent years
which make it appealing to people desiring to lose weight or control their blood sugar. In the
Philippines, the primary source of palm sugar is fresh sap from the inflorescence of coconut.

ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION

Kaong was introduced to the Philippine islands long

before the Spaniards discovered the country in 1521. Kaong is
widely distributed in many Asian countries (Figure 1). It has
been reported to occur in the following countries: Bangladesh,
Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
and Vietnam.

CLIMATIC AND SOIL REQUIREMENT

Palmyra palm mainly distributed to tropical regions but some can also grow in subtropics.
It was found that acid soil is not suitable for the Palmyrah palm in Sri Lanka but in India it can
grow in all types of soil. Deep sandy and loamy soil is preferable. Minimum sunlight is required
for its growth and development. An annual rainfall of 750mm is required for its growth. It is
suitable at elevation up to 80m above mean sea level.
PALMYRAH VARRIETIES

 SVPR 1 (1992)
SVVR 1 variety released in the year of 1992 by Palm Research station,
Srivilliputhur. Thus produce 298 liters of patanir within 95 days and gives 140-150 fruits
per annum. In this category of palm reach 7.55 meters high and 1.42 m thick. Can get up
to 144 grams of palm sugar per liter patanir.
 Dwarf Palmyra
Dwarf palm diagnostic in the Horticultural College, carried out by the crew of
Professor V. Ponnusamy funded by the Government of India. Developing dwarf palm to
reduce a hazard to the workers at climbing.

CULTIVATION OF PALMYRAH

SOWING

The plants are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Pollination
occurs by both wind and insect. Before sowing the seed, ripe fruits kept in shade for 4 weeks so
that seed become loosened and then it is treated with carbendazim (0.1%) for 24 hr to prevent the
incidence of diseases and to enhance the germination process.

SELECTION OF SEEDS

Sowing can be done directly in situ or by raising the seedlings in nursery. 3-4 fruits are
planted in pits (20 cm3) at 10 m apart for direct sowing and then pit is filled with sand and
mixture of soil partially. After that dried leaves is used for covering the pit. Seed can be sown in
the month of November. Germination starts within 3 weeks of sowing. For nursery sowing, bed
is prepared with bricks having 2m broad and 60cm height and sowing is done at 10cm of
spacing. 1 year old seedling is taken from the nursery and should be kept in polythene bags.

TRANSPLANTING AND SPACING

When rooting starts, transplanting of seedling in the main field is done. A spacing of 3m
x 3m is maintained to accommodate 1110 palms/ha. Pruning of 30% leaves is recommended
after cultivation of Palmyrah palm. Moringa, Cowpea, Greengram, amla, guava can be used as
intercrop in Palmyrah palm cultivation.
MANURE AND FERTILIZER

Application of 10 Kg of Farm Yard Manure /pit before planting the nuts (as basal
dressing) is advantageous. The dosage may be increased biannually till reaching 60 Kg
FYM/pit/year.

HARVESTING SAP

At the age of 25-30 years, tapping can be done. Sap is harvested just before the
inflorescences open. The leaves are removed at the time of tapping so that tapper can easily
reach the inflorences. After removing the flower buds in male palms, inflorescences (usually
about 12) are tied together. Usually three to four days after cutting the tops of the stalks of the
inflorescences, bucket is hanged which is supported by a basket.

Individual inflorescences are handled in female palm where flowers are broken off and
bent towards the bucket to increase the sap flow. This was carried out early in the morning. To
prevent fermentation, some slaked lime is added in the sap but this also affects the flavour. Yield
of the sap depend on the skill and technique used by the tapper.

PEST OF PALMYRAH AND CONTROL METHOD

Rhinoceros beetle (Oraicitas rainocaras)

Leaves base, apex leaves, young leaves and stem are will attack
by adult beetles. The area between the stem and the leaf axis 4 percent
of malathion 250 grams of powder and sand mixed in equal quantities
should apply. Mature beetle control pulled off by the hook. Castor oil
cake used to isolate by placing the pots to soak attract and kill the
adult beetle.

Red palm weevil

Thin section of the stem base of the stem of young worms

eating cause leaf drying in palms. Weevil struck pasty liquid emitted
from the area. While removing leaves and leaf stem must refrain from
any damage. Palm is affected by leaf blight and removing withered
prevents multiplication of the beetles.

Black headed caterpillar

Young caterpillar eating exploiting chlorophyll of palm leaves.

Acute effects of exposure to the cut leaf should be removed. Worm
parasites (pirakonitukal, pettilitukal) Pupa parasites (yulopitukal) prey
devouring appropriate periodic control by allowing the attack. Manokurottapas for young
seedlings or spraying of malathion to control these pests at a rate of 1 ml per liter of spray
mixture.

DISEASE OF PALMYRAH AND CONTROL METHOD

Tuber rot

The change in color from golden to dark reaches tubers disease.

Fluid exits. Palm seeds are extracted from fruits soak carbendazim by
0.1 percent after that in the solution for 24 hours when the tuber rot
attacks decreased 61.0 per cent and seed germination to increase 20.1
per cent has been found. Trichoderma viride using the biocontrol
fungicide control tuber rot.

Leaf blight

All development stages are susceptible to leaf blight. Elongated

Gray brown spots are seen in leaf midrib and margins. Several leaf
spots are coagulate and cause Leaf blight disease. Bodo mixture of a
per cent or copper oxy chloride 0.2 per cent of fungicide to be applied
at the base of leaves. If find the disease in its early stage only can protect

Inflorescence rot

Small dots appearing on the edges of leaves are spread inside.

With the intensification of the stem rot disease attacks palms will die.
The folded palm are burn immediately flushes, attacks of the disease
seen on other palms of the outer leaves removed when they are burned
to prevent further spread of the disease. Palms are by keeping the
cleanliness of stem to avoid rotting.

Damages by Birds and Animals

Set livestock fence to avoid the damage caused by animals.

damages caused by livestock flowering stage occurs after 20-25
years.
REFERENCES:

 V.PONNUSWAMI (2016), Tnau Agritech Portal Horticulture; Plantation Crops;

Palmyrah
 LANTICAN, C AND HAAGEN, A. (2014), Variability of Sap Yield in Kaong (Arenga
pinnata (Wurmb) Merr.) in the Philippines
 ANKITA AMAN1, RAJNI RAJAN AND SUPARNA SINHA, (2021), The Palmyrah
Palm (Borassus flabellifer L.): Overview of Biology, Uses, and Cultivation
 RETRIEVED ON; Annexure-11-Palmyrah-production-technology.