MIRI: Smallholders in Miri District are expecting better earnings with the price of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) going up.
The FFBs currently fetch between RM518, RM580 and RM585 per tonne.
Prior to this, the price was below RM300 per tonne.
For Theresa Simon, a smallholder who spoke to New Sarawak Tribune, she is hoping that the current prices would go up again or at least remain stable.
“For years, we have endured severe financial burden resulting from low selling prices, and I hope the demand for our crude palm oil (CPO) would also increase to sustain smallholders in the future,” she said.
Theresa and her family have been involved in oil palm cultivation for the past 20 years.
They currently have some 3,000 oil palm trees in their estate in Lapok.
Another smallholder, Adum Liu from Bekenu, was equally delighted with the price increase.
“It definitely helps smallholders…to cover costs from planting to harvesting, not to mention the costs of hiring workers,” he said.
Adum has about 1,300 oil palm trees in his family estate in Bekenu, and has been involved in this endeavour for the past seven years.
Currently, the rate for hiring workers is between RM60 and RM80 per person.
