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ETP ANNUAL REPORT 2011
68
Here and Now in Malaysia
Cultivating Oil Palm
in Sarikei, Sarawak
In the district of Sarikei, Sarawak,
Puan Salimah anak Kanawang
planted pepper for a living and
took on odd jobs on the side.
“Our small pepper farm gave us
a stable yield and some income
for the family, but it was just not
enough. The pepper plants are quite
sensitive to weather conditions so if
the weather was bad, we would get
a poor harvest. This meant I had to
take on odd jobs just to supplement
what little income we made from
the pepper farm,” said Salimah at her
farm.
“Recently, things changed. I was
given the opportunity to participate
as a smallholder in a new oil palm
planting scheme. This scheme is
being managed by the Malaysian
Palm Oil Board (MPOB). By
participating in this scheme, I earn
an average of RM2,000 and RM3,000
monthly, which is so much more
than before. Between January and
August 2011, I harvested a total of
40.33 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches
from 2.8 hectares of land.”
Through this scheme, Salimah
cultivates oil palm on her land and
the MPOB provides support such
as fertilisers for the first two years,
and soft and hard skills training. In
addition, they advise her on how to
better manage her plantation.
MPOB aims to increase production
and yield of palm oil in Malaysia,
ensuring that the participating
smallholders receive quality
seeds that would subsequently
produce quality fresh fruit bunch
consistently.
“I work on the plantation with
members of my family. This also
means that all the earnings from the
land are for my family. We are happier
and can live more comfortably than
before, “she said.
In addition, Salimah uses Cantas,
a motorised cutter (an invention
by MPOB); to harvest the fresh fruit
bunches in her plantation. The
simple and efficient device cuts off
her daily harvesting time by half.
With the stable monthly income, a
labour saving harvesting process,
increased knowledge on plantation
management and a support system,
she can now continuously improve
her plantation.
Her dedication towards the family
plantation, have earned her the title
of best performing female palm oil
smallholder in Sarawak by MPOB.
“ I work on the
plantation with
members of my family.
This also means that all
the earnings from the
land are for my family.
We are happier and can
live more comfortably
than before
”
Cantas, a motorised
cutter invented by MPOB
to harvest the fresh fruit
bunches in plantations.