SEREMBAN, May 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB),Thursday warned smallholders, traders and palm oil millers involved in thesale and processing of unripe oil palm bunches to stop the practiceimmediately or risk facing action from the authorities.

Under the new licensing regulations, those found to have contravened thelaw could be compounded, Board Director-General Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basironsaid.

In a move to explain to smallholders, traders and manufacturers of theconsequences of selling and processing young oil palm fruits, the boardwas currently holding visits and information sessions at its regional andbranch offices nationwide.

"I'd like to stress that the board is committed to root out this unhealthypractice which had harmed the industry," he said at the opening of theSeremban MPOB branch office by the state executive councillor foragriculture and agro-based industries Datuk Razak Mansor.

Dr Yusof said the board was also holding a campaign to boost palm oiloutput through the media.

He said palm oil production had been static for more than 10 years,averaging only about 3.73 tonnes per hectare last year, the main reasonfor the loss of millions of ringgit to the country.

He said MPOB observed that the practice of selling unripe fruits which ledto low yields had been largely responsible for low production.

He said 64 per cent of the country's agriculture land was under oil palm.

-- BERNAMA