Kok tells oil palm planters to consider other crops

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 2 Mar 2019 6:31PM · 2 Comments

Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok says oil palm players have to give the sector a new image to re-attract global customers, especially in Europe. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 3, 2019.

WITH palm oil prices facing pressure on international markets, the government is recommending that oil palm planters and smallholders consider other types of commercial crops with better market prospects.

Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim said potential commodity crops with high demand include coconuts, pineapples and bamboo.

She said the fall in palm oil prices last year had affected many smallholders and only a few large planters were able to profit from the sale of the commodity.

“A few companies have started to move away from oil palm to coconuts. The planting of coconuts can be profitable as every year, Malaysia imports a lot of coconuts to meet demand.

“Therefore, this (planting coconuts) is something worth trying, as well as other crops such as pineapples and bamboo, which are planted in Pos Lenjang, Cameron highlands, and can be used to make various goods,” she said at the launch of The Valley@Bentong development project in Kuantan today.

Present were Bentong MP Wong Tack, Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (Bina Puri) chairman Wong Foon Meng and Bina Puri group managing director Tee Hock Seng.

Kok said the federal government, in cooperation with state governments, had ceased opening up new areas for oil palm plantations.

“Oil palm players also have an important role to play in giving the sector a new image to re-attract global customers, especially in Europe.

“This includes intensifying replanting activities and contributing to wildlife conservation, which are two of the major issues constantly raised at the international level,” she added. – Bernama, March 2, 2019.

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Comments

  • Thank goodness she is realising the love palm oil tactic is dead in the water as long as the emphasis is not on sustainability and conservation of wildlife and insect habitat. It can be done if Malaysia takes up the mantle of world leader in environmentally friendly farming methods. Training farmers and settlers is essential to reverse the negative image and effect real change. Climate change is here and action is needed now.

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

  • Good. The EU ban is a blessing in disguise. Perhaps, as a result, our economy will finally move up the value chain and wean itself off the drug of cheap foreign (and often undocumented/trafficked) labour. And perhaps, just perhaps, Malaysians will start thinking about the environment, conservation of our biodiversity... Well, we can hope.

    Posted 7 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply