KUCHING: At the recent International Conference on Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Sarawak 2017, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg stressed the need for modernisation to increase production, productivity and quality standards of Sarawak’s quality products with more research and development (R&D), especially in digital technology.
He also stated that the palm oil industry in the state is one of the leading agro-based industries that will enable Sarawak to increase quality products through such R&D activities.
Much of the knowledge and research activities on oil palm had been carried out in peninsular Malaysia over the years which had,directly and indirectly, benefited planters in Sarawak. However, the unique situation in Sarawak warrants more R&D as the conditions here can be quite different from those in other parts of the nation.
Currently, more than ten different projects in R&D are being carried out in collaboration between planters in Sarawak and MPOB (Malaysian Palm Oil Board), the authority on oil palm in the country.
Due to the late start for many of these R&D activities, there is still a lack of information on issues facing the palm oil industry in Sarawak. More data and analysis need to be examined before steps can be taken to tackle the common pest and disease issues plaguing the state’s oil palm industry.
It has also been proposed to MPOB by SOPPOA (Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association) that more R&D activities need to be carried out in the state as most of the new planting will be carried out here (with the state government commitment to 3million ha of oil palm for agriculture). Such a move will enable faster analysis of results and better coordination with research personnel involved in the R&D activities here, which augurs well for the industry.
It was also proposed that MPOB should consider engaging local universities based in Sarawak for such collaborative research activities, as these institutions have the necessary laboratories and experts as well as students interested to carry out such work for the post-graduate studies and related fields of interests. Such collaborations with local institutions will also ensure that long term R&D projects could be carried out as the universities always have students who can carry out these continuation works when the older groups had graduated.
From a consensus amongst growers in the state, that more R&D work should be carried out on Tirathaba attack in oil palm estates as these insects are quite destructive and reproduce fast. Another critical issue is Ganoderma disease which is commonly found in older estates while peat soil studies are crucial for some areas as these are unique and not well understood soils in relation to oil palm planting.
Better understanding of these diseases and control of insects and other agents affecting productivity and growth of oil palms in Sarawak will ensure that the industry continue to progress and realise its potential which will greatly benefit rural populations where most of these estates are located.
As the state government has called for more R&D into many other agricultural products, similar investments should be made also in the palm oil industry here as it has huge potential and also contributes much to the state development and income.
