logo
Home   |   Contact Us

The Archives

RM30 million fund set up for palm mechanization research

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: A new RM30 million fund aimed at facilitating research in oil palm mechanisation has been set up by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

Its Minister, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said the Oil Palm Mechanisation Fund was launched with an allocation of RM25 million from the government, while RM5 million would be contributed by the private sector.

“I am optimistic that the private sector will be forthcoming with their contributions to further promote mechanisation (in the oil palm industry).

“To date, one company has contributed RM1 million to the fund,” he told a press conference after the launch of the ‘Palm Oil Economic Review and Outlook Seminar 2017’ organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) yesterday.

He said the fund would be used, among others, to fund mechanisation research at both local and overseas research organisations, acquire mechanisation technologies, and host competitions and modifications of equipment.

The fund will be administered by the MPOB with the participation of representatives from plantation companies, academia and related parties, he said, adding that it would also help spur productivity, efficiency and quality of palm oil production.

“The oil palm industry is labour intensive, employing 431,357 workers in the estates, of which 77 per cent or 332,135 are foreigners.

“With more efficient technology and equipment, we can reduce dependency on foreign labour in the long run,” he said.

Mah said going forward, the ministry was targeting at one worker per 12 hectares compared with one worker per eight hectares at present.

On a report that a palm oil ingredient in chocolate and hazelnut spread Nutella could be linked to cancer, he said the allegation was a misinformation as it was not proven. — Bernama

(Taken from The Borneo Post)