MARKET DEVELOPMENT
129 Oil Palm Projects in Felcra’s Bag
129 Oil Palm Projects in Felcra’s Bag
28/11/2013 (Borneo Post) - FELCRA Bhd Sarawak has developed 129 oil palm projects covering 48,488 hectares of land, spreading all over the state.
Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing said the projects participants totalling 9,012 persons include Malays, Melanaus, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Kedayans and Chinese.
“Out of the 129 projects, 119 are in production.
“Last year, Felcra’s projects registered an average fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield of 16 tonnes per hectare and an average oil extraction rate (OER) of 18.84 per cent,” he said in his winding up speech yesterday.
Masing said at this point of time, the FFB yield and OER are still below the benchmark of 25 tonnes of FFB per hectare and an OER of 20 per cent set by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development as most of the projects in production are at the young mature stage.
“Apart from cultivating oil palm, the agency is also vigorously implementing its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme for the betterment of the livelihood of its project participants.
“The CSR programme includes the setting up of co-operatives, economic loan fund, Wanita Dinamis Groups and youth associations for the participants,” he said.
On Felda Bhd, Masing said Felda Global Venture Plantations (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Felda), which owns and manages 7,680 hectares of oil palm in five project areas at Sempadi, Lundu, has through good agriculture practices, attained an average FFB yield of 20.77 tonnes per hectare compared to 19.40 tonnes for the previous year.
He added that the management of the estates had set a yield target of 21.04 tonnes of FFBs per hectare for this year.
With 70 per cent of its workers being foreigners, Masing said Felda is going all out to attract more locals to work in the estates by enhancing the potential for the locals to increase their incomes based on family (husband and wife) with a monthly income of RM1,000 per person.
“Felda also maintains its housing assistance for workers scheme at RM100 per month for those who fulfil the condition. The objective of this scheme is to assist workers in the construction or renovation of their houses after they have retired,” he noted.
Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing said the projects participants totalling 9,012 persons include Malays, Melanaus, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Kedayans and Chinese.
“Out of the 129 projects, 119 are in production.
“Last year, Felcra’s projects registered an average fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield of 16 tonnes per hectare and an average oil extraction rate (OER) of 18.84 per cent,” he said in his winding up speech yesterday.
Masing said at this point of time, the FFB yield and OER are still below the benchmark of 25 tonnes of FFB per hectare and an OER of 20 per cent set by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development as most of the projects in production are at the young mature stage.
“Apart from cultivating oil palm, the agency is also vigorously implementing its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme for the betterment of the livelihood of its project participants.
“The CSR programme includes the setting up of co-operatives, economic loan fund, Wanita Dinamis Groups and youth associations for the participants,” he said.
On Felda Bhd, Masing said Felda Global Venture Plantations (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Felda), which owns and manages 7,680 hectares of oil palm in five project areas at Sempadi, Lundu, has through good agriculture practices, attained an average FFB yield of 20.77 tonnes per hectare compared to 19.40 tonnes for the previous year.
He added that the management of the estates had set a yield target of 21.04 tonnes of FFBs per hectare for this year.
With 70 per cent of its workers being foreigners, Masing said Felda is going all out to attract more locals to work in the estates by enhancing the potential for the locals to increase their incomes based on family (husband and wife) with a monthly income of RM1,000 per person.
“Felda also maintains its housing assistance for workers scheme at RM100 per month for those who fulfil the condition. The objective of this scheme is to assist workers in the construction or renovation of their houses after they have retired,” he noted.