Plantation Crops

Stage of harvest

• Fully ripe fruit bunches are harvested. Immature bunches and partially rotten bunches are not suited because it results in low oil recovery of poor quality.
1. Change in colour :When colour of fruits changes from black to orange or red or yellowish orange.
2. Detachment of fruits : For practical purposes when few fruits ( say around 10 fruits or more detached or easily removable for young palm and 5 fruits for adult palm) are detached from the bunch.
3. Change in fruit texture : Fruits become smooth when ripe and fruits can be pressed with fingers with ease.
• Over ripe fruits reduces quantity and quality of oil. If harvesting is delayed the fat is converted to free fatty acids and glycerol.
• Harvesting is done at ripe stage and if it is delayed the fat is converted to free fatty acids and glycerol.

Harvesting interval
As the oil synthesis and free fatty acids formation occur during ripening process, harvesting should be carried out as frequently as possible inorder to reduce the number of over ripe bunches. Over ripe bunches have a high degree of fruit detachment and have increased oil acidity. According to current practices, harvesting should be done at every 7 to 14 days intervals.

Harvesting tools
When palms are young.====Chisel attached to the tip of 1.2 to 1.5 m long stick of wood or of light hollow metal pipe with a handle When palms grow older use wider chisel ( about 14 cm wide) and a longer stick.
Harvested fresh fruit bunches (FFB) have to be transported to the factory as quickly as possible and at any cost not later than one day ( With in 24 hours).