29/06/2010 (The Malaysian Insider), Sandakan - Palm oil exports rose 21 per cent to RM19 billion in the first four months of this year against exports of RM15 billion registered in the corresponding period last year, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainudin.

He said realising its importance as a leading revenue earner for the country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had placed the industry under the National Key Results Areas.

However, he pointed out that the industry was over dependent on foreign labour as 80 per cent of the 200,000 workers employed in oil palm plantations were harvesters.

“Locals are reluctant to work in oil palm plantations and this has led to the influx of foreign workers.

“The government is aware of the dilemma but industry players themselves should assume the responsibility to address the problem,” he said, adding that large plantation companies should turn to mechanisation to reduce their dependence on foreign labour.

Speaking at the launch of a motorised harvester, the Cantas Mark III, here today, Hamzah said land under oil palm cultivation had reached 4.7 million hectares and a large workforce was required to man these plantations.

The Cantas Mark III, jointly developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and Fancy Power Sdn Bhd, is an updated version of the motorised harvester which was first commercialised in 2007.   

Hamzah said large oil palm plantations should consider the extensive use of the petrol fuelled harvester which retailed for RM2,500 each.

Expressing disappointment over the fact that only 559 such machines were used presently, he said the Cantas Mark III can address the severe labour shortage faced in oil palm plantations.