KLUANG – The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), is in the midst of producing a new variety of oil palm tree that will grow up to 20ft only to facilitate crop harvesting.
Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng said although trees from the new variety will be shorter than the existing breed, which can reach 40 to 50 feet, the quality of the fruit and oil produced will still be the same.
“Based on the record, most of the smallholders are senior citizens. It is hoped that the new variety with shorter oil palm trees will make it easier for them to harvest on their own.
“MPOB is also conducting a study to produce more palm oil for the new variety,” he told a press conference in Simpang Renggam here today.
Meanwhile, Wee said that 87% of oil palm plantation owners have the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certificate to date, while only about 39% of private smallholders have the certificate.
He said the certificate is very important to ensure that products produced by oil palm plantations, smallholders, and palm oil processing plants are sustainable and acceptable in the global market.
“Most owners of large and organised plantations such as the Federal Land Development Authority and the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority have the MSPO certificate...the problem now is the smallholders.
“As such, we will organise an awareness campaign this year to encourage more oil palm smallholders to get MSPO certificates, as we also plan to make it mandatory for them to hold the certificate,” he said. – Bernama, April 25, 2021
