29/09/2026 (The Borneo Post), Miri - The Sarawak Dayak Oil Palm Planters Association (Doppa) is calling on the Sarawak and federal governments to provide urgent financial aid and reform Native Customary Rights (NCR) land policies in their upcoming budgets.

Doppa president Dr Napolean R Ningkos said smallholders play a vital role in driving rural prosperity and contribute significantly to state revenue.

“Given this substantial contribution, the state government is urged to consider providing additional financial aid to this industry, especially in rural areas,” he said.

Doppa also called on the Sarawak government to set up a dedicated statutory body to regulate and oversee the palm oil sector.

“As the second-largest contributor to state income after the petroleum industry, establishing a regulatory body for the palm oil industry is deemed appropriate,” Napolean said.

He said the government should also prioritise the upgrading of rural access roads and providing initial support for native landowners venturing into oil palm cultivation.

Group-based farm road upgrades and seedling assistance could also encourage new plantings, he said.

On administrative hurdles faced by farmers on untitled NCR land, Doppa called on the state government and the federal Ministry of Plantation and Commodities to streamline replanting assistance.

“Doppa urges the state government and the ministry to develop a more flexible replanting scheme.

“The current application process is lengthy and unhelpful for smallholders on NCR land,” he said.

Doppa also suggested revisiting the 50 per cent matching grant with Agrobank of RM18,000 per ha.

It proposed that a federal grant of RM9,000 per ha be considered for smallholders who have replanted on their own initiative on NCR land.

To reduce the reliance on foreign workers, Doppa also recommended grant incentives to encourage farm mechanisation, particularly in fruit harvesting operations.

The association said to cushion smallholders against rising input and fuel costs, targeted cash assistance and an expanded diesel subsidy could be introduced.

“Doppa proposes a targeted subsidy mechanism of RM1,000 per ha to assist independent smallholders, up to a maximum of 10 ha,” said Napolean.

He said a targeted diesel subsidy is also necessary and suggested raising the subsidy from 400 to 600 litres for each smallholder with an area of between 20 and 40 ha.

Pointing out stringent international land documentation requirements, he called for a special allocation to speed up the verification of NCR land planted with oil palm.

“This is crucial to ensure smallholders are not excluded from the global palm oil supply chain,” he said.

The proposed measures would empower smallholders, raise living standards in interior communities, and strengthen Sarawak’s position as a major sustainable palm oil producer, he said.

Doppa represents about 57,000 Dayak independent smallholders who cultivate some 292,000ha across Sarawak.

https://www.theborneopost.com/2026/09/29/dayak-oil-palm-growers-seek-financial-aid-ncr-land-reforms/