KUCHING: Sarawak’s palm oil plantations are facing challenges in their efforts to adopt automation and mechanisation due to labour shortage and compatibility issues, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
New Sarawak Tribune spoke to its director general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir who acknowledged that while the technology has shown success in streamlining activities like the collection and mobilisation of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and the application of fertilisers and pesticides, its adoption for harvesting has remained low.
While there are motorised or battery-powered cutters available for harvesting palms below 8 metres, there is still a lack of suitable technology for harvesting in general. “The low adoption of mechanical cutters for harvesting is due to issues related to maintenance and machine endurance,” Ahmad Parveez said. “This problem is exacerbated by the lack of interest among locals in working in the field due to the perception that it is dirty, dangerous, and difficult.”
Foreign workers currently perform more than 90 per cent of the harvesting work in the plantations, highlighting the need for innovative solutions that can address labour shortages while also promoting cost-effective and efficient harvesting methods.
“It’s not just a matter of having the right technology and skilled operators; Sarawak’s complex topography, soil types, and logistics present additional hurdles that need to be addressed,” he said.
“To mechanise and automate effectively, the industry needs cost-effective and suitable technology that can manoeuvre effectively in soft soil and terrain conditions,” added Ahmad Parveez.
He pointed out that connectivity poses yet another hurdle for the industry, stating that “not all planted areas enjoy adequate connectivity, which is crucial for certain systems that rely on fast real-time monitoring and control. Moreover, the satellite signal can be erratic under the thick palm canopies, affecting the sensitivity and accuracy of the Global Positioning System (GPS).”
Despite facing challenges in the adoption of mechanisation and automation in Sarawak’s palm oil industry, the federal government has stepped in to provide support.
“The Oil Palm Industry Mechanisation Incentive Scheme (OPIMIS) budget in 2022 was completed, and stakeholders from Sarawak had received 15 per cent of the total fund or RM668,360.00, out of the RM4.5 million budget allocated. Sarawak was the top recipient of the fund. The Dana Mekanisasi is still ongoing, and there are companies from Sarawak benefiting from this fund,” he explained.
Further collaborative efforts and innovative solutions will be necessary to fully address the challenges associated with mechanisation and automation, but these initiatives provide a positive step towards achieving these goals.
As of December 2022, the total area of oil palm plantations in Sarawak increased by 1 per cent from the previous year, reaching 1.62 million hectares. Of this, 85 per cent or 1.37 million hectares were owned by the estate sector, while independent smallholders owned the remaining land.
In terms of employment, the MPOB only tracks the workforce in the palm oil plantation sector, which recorded 105,139 workers in December 2022. Foreign workers accounted for 75.7 per cent of the total workforce, highlighting the significant reliance on foreign labour in the plantation.
