KPK AIMS TO REPLANT OIL PALM ON 77,000 HECTARES OVER NEXT 5 YEARS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The government has targeted oil palm replanting on 77,000 hectares of land over the next five years (2025–2029) to ensure the palm sector remains sustainable and competitive through the implementation of an oil palm replanting programme, specifically among smallholders.

The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) said that research and development (R&D) will be enhanced to produce high-yielding oil palm plants using tissue culture techniques and conventional seed production to meet the demand for replanting.

“Currently, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has launched three commercial clones, namely Clonal Palm Series 1 (CPS1), CPS2, and CPS3, to improve yield and productivity.

"MPOB is also facilitating the adoption of automation, mechanisation, and IR4.0 (Industrial Revolution 4.0) technologies to boost production and quality,” KPK said in a written reply published on the Parliament website today.

The ministry said this in response to a question from Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) regarding the long-term strategic plan of KPK in the aspects of rejuvenating the agri-commodity sector, especially rubber and oil palm.

Meanwhile, in response to a question from Jamaludin Yahya (PN-Pasir Salak) on the readiness of the local ecosystem for smart agricultural technology, KPK informed that MPOB is collaborating with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) through the AgriNXT programme to provide digital solutions for the oil palm industry.

"It is hoped that through these efforts, the acceptance of smart agricultural technology can be enhanced, thereby improving the effectiveness of oil palm estate management and increase the country’s oil palm output,” it said.

-- BERNAMA