Oil palm smallholders told to go modern
BALAI RINGIN: Oil palm smallholders should take the opportunity to learn new technology for mass production of palm fruits. Balai Ringin assemblyman Datuk Snowdan Lawan adopting new technology will not only assist the farmers to optimise the use of land, but also to preserve the environment. He was speaking during National Initiatives for Sustainable and […]
EUDR should ensure smallholders’ inclusivity
KUALA LUMPUR: Oil palm-producing countries have emphasised that the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) should ensure smallholders’ inclusivity when it is implemented. The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) said although the new regulation is a major milestone showing the commitment of the EU to contribute to reducing global deforestation, it has created a […]
Sarawak is the second top CPO producing state
KUCHING: Sarawak was the No 2 top producing state of crude palm oil (CPO) in Malaysia in 2022, recording total output of 4,005,425 tonnes against 3,907,820 tonnes in 2021. Year-on-year, Sarawak’s CPO production volume rose by 97,605 tonnes or about 2.5 per cent. In the final month of December, Sarawak recorded CPO volume of 357,365 […]
Cut foreign labour dependency with mechanisation
BINTULU: Oil palm industry players have been urged to increase machinery use to reduce the continued dependence on foreign workers which could affect the sector in the long term. Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Willie Mongin said the oil palm plantation industry is a sub-sector that is heavily dependent on foreign labour […]
Sarawak stayed top CPO producer in July
KUCHING: Sarawak continued as the country’s top producer of crude palm oil (CPO) in July 2022, with output of 345,165 tonnes. Sarawak’s July CPO output was the highest monthly this year and exceeded June production of 329,638 tonnes by 15,527 tonnes or 4.7 per cent, according to the latest monthly data from Malaysian Palm Oil […]
Oil palm mills reminded to comply with environment Act
KUCHING: Oil palm mills in Sarawak are to fully comply with the Environmental Quality Act, 1974 to prevent water and air pollution. “There are a total of 85 oil palm mills here, and I hope all will comply with the updated regulations,” said Sarawak Department of Environment (DoE) director Hamzah Mohamad. “This year, we aim […]
High oil palm prices lure construction workers
SELANGAU: Exorbitant oil palm prices have drawn construction workers to the plantation sector. Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said this was due to the lucrative salaries offered by plantation operators compared to earnings in the construction sector which were based on skill levels. “When the prices of oil palm are so lucrative, these […]
Oil palm lures farmers; over reliance worries ministry
A CONSISTENT demand and lucrative prices in the market is making farmers turn their attention to cultivating oil palm. The Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Ministry which is aware of this farming shift said this had resulted in a significant reduction in the planted area for other crops. To address the issue Minister Datuk […]
Leadership deficit
The last thing I ever wanted was to be alive when the three most powerful people on the whole planet would be named Bush, Dick and Colon. — Kurt Vonnegut, American writer DO orangutans kill people? I thought they were of a gentle nature. However, a recent statement made by a federal minister is at […]
Labour shortage in oil palm industry more harmful than price drop
KUALA LUMPUR: Labour shortage is more detrimental to both estates and smallholders in Malaysia’s oil palm industry than a global price drop, according to a Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) study. The institute said a 30 per cent reduction of labour from the current level would see production fall by half, and a further of 80 […]
