KUCHING: Palm oil production in Sarawak has shown promising growth, hitting 1.7 million metric tons in the first half of this year.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that this is a 2 per cent rise compared to the same months in 2022.
Last year, Sarawak produced 4 million metric tons of palm oil, marking a 2.50 per cent increase from 2021.
“This shows how vital the palm oil business is for our agriculture and economy, especially here in Sarawak,” he said during his speech at the East Malaysia Palm and Lauric Oils Conference 2023 here yesterday.
Additionally, Abang Johari said that in 2021, the palm oil sector was the biggest contributor of Sarawak’s economy, making up 68 per cent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He also said that Sarawak is the state with the largest palm oil plantation. It accounted for 29 per cent of Malaysia’s total planted area in 2022. This area is 1.6 million hectares out of Malaysia’s 5.7 million hectares.
“But what’s important is that nearly all of our palm oil farms meet the strict Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standards. This shows we care about doing things the right way,” he said.
However, he clarified that the Sarawak government doesn’t support expanding big palm oil farms unless it’s on communal or native lands.
While praising the palm oil sector’s growth and contributions to Sarawak, Abang Johari acknowledged some challenges.
But, with the right actions and focus on being green, he believed the industry can thrive.
“We are focused on being green and fighting climate change. Sarawak is even working on a plan to reduce its carbon. This shows how serious we are about taking care of the environment and our future,” he added.
