logo
Home   |   Contact Us

The Archives

Soppoa to continue working with government on palm oil

Friday, 22 May 2015

KUCHING: The Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa) will continue to work closely with relevant ministries and federal and state government agencies on issues related to the palm oil industry in Sarawak.

A statement from the association said it has been in collaboration with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) in its pursuit to drive growth in the Sarawak palm oil industry through enhanced productivity (and yield intensification), and improvement in overall performance in plantation management activities and mills operations.

In this regard, a request has been made to MPOB to expand and to establish a stronger research and development (R&D) team in Sarawak to assist the local palm oil industry.

Improving production and oil extraction yields through technology and efficiency can help boost productivity, especially for the smallholders.

Inter alia, the industry also needs more intensive R&D efforts to help reduce labour dependence through automation and mechanisation, and for the mitigation and elimination of pests and diseases to enhance productivity. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is currently being finalised by MPOB to be signed with Soppoa for this purpose.

Soppoa, in which its objectives aim to advance, promote and protect the development of the Sarawak palm oil industry, believes in responsible farming in support of humanity, sustainability and economic wealth of the nation.

It also supports the adoption of Best Management Practices by all oil palm growers to ensure that wildlife and environmental health are not adversely affected while conducting plantation activities.

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) are adopted by the Malaysian oil palm industry to ensure that their activities are carried out sustainably to play a responsible role in reducing the environmental footprint.

The establishment of the Malaysian Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund (MPOWCF) reinforces the industry’s commitment towards conservation efforts on biodiversity and wildlife. Soppoa also supports the state government’s initiatives in environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation and wildlife preservation in Sarawak. Oil palm cultivation is an important agriculture crop for Sarawak and is part of the state government’s strategy to bring social and economic development to the rural areas.

The Sarawak palm oil industry had not only contributed in raising the social and economic development of its people, but also provided a vehicle for infrastructure development in the rural areas.

Furthermore, the industry has created job opportunities in the upstream and downstream business value chain, and at the same time provided an important source of revenue for the state government through taxes.

On the issue of opening up land for smallholders and Native Customary Rights (NCR) landowners for oil palm planting as called for by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Soppoa viewed this as a positive move to bring development to the rural areas in order to uplift the livelihood of the rural communities, and to ensure that their welfare are taken care of. Soppoa members fully support the initiative as this will ensure that the industry will continue to grow and bring more development to the state and its people.

The association also recognises the importance and significant economic impact that sustainability has on the continued success of the Sarawak palm oil industry. In this connection, Soppoa supports the implementation of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme to ensure the sustainable production of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).

Meanwhile, Soppoa held its seventh annual general meeting here recently, with 15 council members elected for the term 2015 to 2017.

Following the election, the council members subsequently elected Datu Vasco Sabat Singkang as chairman while Tiong Chiong Ong and Dato’ Sri Law Kiu Kiong were appointed first and second vice-chairmen respectively.

Shannon Yii and Datuk Ha Tiung Noon were elected as secretary and deputy secretary, whereas the posts of treasure and deputy treasurers went to Datuk Jin Kee Mou and William Yii.

Taken from the Borneo Post