RM2.97 million allocated for technology use on oil palm plantations
The funding is expected to benefit 76 smallholder contractors, alongside training in mechanisation, maintenance and entrepreneurship.
Malaysia has earmarked RM2.97 million to encourage oil palm plantations to adopt technology, with the aim of cutting labour reliance and operating costs, Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii told the Dewan Rakyat.
Huang said 76 smallholder contractors were expected to benefit. He was answering a supplementary question from Fathul Huzir Ayob (PN-Gerik) about using technology to improve smallholders’ productivity and income opportunities.
The ministry also provides mechanisation and automation training, including how to operate and maintain equipment and basic entrepreneurship skills. Huang said five training series, supported by RM1.1 million, had benefited 155 participants drawn from smallholders and industry players.
In response to Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (BN-Jempol), Huang outlined efforts under the National Agricommodity Policy 2021-2030 to move the sector towards higher-value downstream production rather than raw-material exports. He said this would help shield the domestic industry from crude palm oil price fluctuations.
Measures under way and set to continue include developing nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products using high-value oil palm components. Huang said the ministry aimed to maintain strong growth in agricommodity export value by 2030 and believed domestically processed downstream products could become major export-value contributors while reducing reliance on crude palm oil.
