The Best Cash Crops to Grow: Why Oil Palm Should Be Your Top Pick

When it comes to farming for profit, knowing the best cash crops to grow can be the difference between a struggling farm and a thriving agribusiness. In today’s agricultural market, there are countless options — cocoa, cassava, maize, ginger, plantain — but one crop consistently outperforms the rest in profitability, demand, and long-term value: Palm. If you’re thinking about starting or expanding a farming business, understanding why Oil palm stands out will help you make a decision that could secure your income for decades.

Why Oil Palm Tops the List of the Best Cash Crops

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a tropical crop that produces two valuable products: palm oil from the fruit’s flesh and palm kernel oil from the seed inside. These oils are vital components in food, cosmetics, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. Palm is one of the most profitable and reliable crops you can grow:  Unmatched Oil Yield – Palm produces more oil per hectare than any other oil crop, far exceeding sunflower, soybean, or groundnut.
Year-Round Harvest – Unlike seasonal crops, oil palm produces fresh fruit bunches throughout the year, ensuring a continuous stream of income.
Multiple Revenue Streams – Farmers can earn from fresh fruit bunches, processed palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palm kernel cake for animal feed.
Long Lifespan – A palm plantation can produce for 25 years or more.
Strong Global Demand – Oil is used in over half of supermarket products, making it one of the most traded agricultural commodities worldwide.

Profit Potential of Oil Palm Farming

When properly managed, a hectare of oil palm will produce 18–30 tons of fresh fruit bunches yearly. In Nigeria and other tropical countries, this can translate to ₦2 million–₦5 million in yearly profit depending on whether you sell raw fruit or process the oil yourself. Starting with certified sprouted Tenera seeds is critical. These improved seeds mature faster, produce more oil, and resist diseases better than ordinary seedlings. With Tenera, you can start harvesting in just three years, compared to five or more years for unimproved varieties.

How to Get Started with Oil Palm Farming

If you decide that palm is the right crop for you, here’s a simple roadmap to begin:  

Select a Suitable Location – Palm thrives in areas with 1,800–2,500 mm of rainfall annually, high humidity, and deep, well-drained soils.
Source Quality Planting Materials – Always buy from reputable suppliers of sprouted Tenera seeds to ensure high yields and early harvests.
Prepare the Land Properly – Clear the land, plough it, and mark planting spots — typically 9m x 9m spacing — to give trees enough sunlight and air circulation.
Maintain the Plantation – Regular weeding, fertilizer application, and pest control are essential, especially in the first three years.
Harvest at the Right Time – To get high oil yield and secure the best market price, harvest fruit bunches only when they are fully ripe.

Comparing Palm to Other Profitable Crops

Other crops like cocoa, ginger, and sesame can indeed be profitable, but they each have limitations:

Cocoa – Strong export market, but trees take 4–5 years to mature and require careful disease control.
Ginger – Quick returns, but prices can be volatile, and markets are seasonal.
Sesame – High export demand, but it is rain-dependent and sensitive to pests
Plantain – Steady local market but fewer value-added opportunities.
Palm, on the other hand, offers continuous production, diversified income streams, and decades of productivity, making it a superior choice for farmers seeking stability and high returns.

Why Choosing the Right Cash Crop Matters

Planting the wrong crop for your location, market, or goals can lead to years of low yields and wasted investment. That’s why it’s important to consider:

Profitability per hectare
Market demand and stability
Longevity of production
Climate and soil suitability
Oil palm ticks all these boxes. By planting it now, you’re essentially locking in an income source that will keep paying you for more than two decades.

Final Thoughts: Palm Is the Best Cash Crop to Grow

If you’re serious about long-term agricultural success, palm oil should be your first choice. It offers high yields, year-round harvests, and strong demand both locally and globally. The sooner you plant, the sooner you start earning — and with improved sprouted Tenera seeds, you can be harvesting in just three years. Don’t wait for another farming season to pass you by. Do not procrastinate; the best time to start your palm oil plantation is now.

Ready to start your palm journey?

We supply high-quality, disease-resistant sprouted Tenera seeds and provide expert guidance from planting to harvest. Take the first step toward decades of profitable farming today.