KUCHING: Those responsible for the sustainability agenda in the palm oil industry are asked to speed up market access for palm oil products, especially involving smallholders in Sarawak.
In stating this, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD) Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said this action was important where the produce from smallholders could increase the sustainability, productivity of produce in Sarawak, thus increasing their livelihood.
“Give quick market accessibility for palm oil products, especially for smallholders in Sarawak for a more sustainable palm oil industry, he said at a round table meeting for Transition Towards Sustainable Palm Oil Production in Sarawak at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), yesterday.
Dr Rundi’s text of speech was read by his deputy minister Martin Ben, who represented him at the round table meeting.
He noted that the Sarawak government fully supported the initiative of any solution-oriented civil society organisation (CSO) such as Solidaridad Network (Solidaridad) on the action.
“So far, Solidaridad has succeeded in uniting the parties involved in the supply chain involving smallholders with the parties involved in facing challenges and producing innovative products to increase production and encourage their transition.
“At the same time, this collaboration can also take steps towards sustainability and generate an inclusive economy that will benefit the community,” he said.
Dr Rundi also stressed that, as the ministry was responsible for leading the development of agriculture and commodities especially in the rural areas of Sarawak, he hoped that more efforts would be made to help smallholders.
“The initiative will assist M-FICORD in transforming and maintaining agriculture and the rural economy through modernisation and commercialisation that aims for Sarawak to become a food exporter by 2030,” he explained.
After the round table session, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the four parties was also held between Solidaridad, the Solvent Extractor’s Association (SEA) of India, the Dayak Palm Planters Association (DOPPA) and the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM) Sarawak.
This MoU is an agreement of the cooperation of the parties to succeed in the sustainability agenda of the oil palm industry in Sarawak.
Dr Rundi hopes to be able to speed up access to the sustainable palm oil market, especially from small native palm oil farmers, in Sarawak.
