MPOB pledges stronger R&D and industry ties to fight Ganoderma
01/10/2025 (The Borneo Post), Miri - The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has reiterated its commitment to tackling Ganoderma, the most destructive disease plaguing the nation’s oil palm sector, through stronger research collaborations and greater industry engagement.
Officiating the Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa)–MPOB Workshop on Ganoderma here today, MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir commended Soppoa for taking the lead in addressing the pressing issue.
“Ganoderma, which causes Basal Stem Rot (BSR), is not a new enemy to the Malaysian oil palm industry. It remains the most destructive and economically devastating disease, reducing yields, shortening plantation lifespans and raising replanting costs,” he said.
MPOB’s surveys, he disclosed, have shown infection rates exceeding 20 per cent in some mature plantings, translating into potential yield losses worth hundreds of millions of ringgit annually if left unmanaged.
“This is not merely a plantation issue but a national economic concern. Palm oil contributes up to RM60 billion in export earnings annually, supporting smallholders, plantation companies and the national GDP (gross domestic product),” he stressed.
Ahmad Parveez noted that MPOB has prioritised Ganoderma research for over three decades, investing in detection technologies, tolerant planting materials, improved cultural practices and biological control agents.
In addition, he said that the board has developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Ganoderma management to provide practical guidance on early detection, sanitation and integrated control.
“Research and guidelines can only deliver results when applied on the ground. Workshops such as this are crucial to facilitate knowledge transfer from lab to land, and from researchers to planters,” he added.
He emphasised that managing Ganoderma is also vital for Malaysia’s sustainability credentials, with international buyers scrutinising palm oil not only for its environmental impact but also for long-term resilience.
“If yields decline due to Ganoderma, pressure to open new land increases, raising concerns about deforestation and biodiversity loss.
“By strengthening Ganoderma management, we are also protecting our sustainability credentials, supporting certification schemes such as Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and aligning with Malaysia’s broader Malaysia Madani framework for responsible development,” he said.
He urged participants to actively engage, share estate experiences, adopt integrated and biological practices, and take a long-term approach in combating the disease.
“MPOB stands ready to work hand-in-hand with Soppoa and industry players to ensure that research outcomes are translated into practical field solutions,” he assured.
Meanwhile, Soppoa chairman Joseph Blandoi said the two-day workshop serves as a platform for MPOB to report on research and development (R&D) progress, while focusing on the unique challenges of Sarawak’s oil palm industry.
He said the programme also enables knowledge-sharing on monitoring, treatment and control of pests and diseases, with Ganoderma highlighted as a priority.
“With incidences rising sharply not only in second-cycle plantings but even among young palms, particularly on peat, the urgency is clear. This year’s workshop is dedicated entirely to Ganoderma to equip operators with the tools to identify, treat, control and monitor the disease more effectively,” he said.
The workshop brings together plantation owners, researchers and industry stakeholders to chart strategies against Ganoderma, which remains the most destructive disease in the oil palm sector.