08/03/2016 (The Star) - Ta Ann Holdings Bhd, a timber and oil palm conglomerate, aims to lead the way in effective peatland management of its oil palm estate in Naman near here.

The estate’s total planted area measures about 900ha and it is a joint-venture between the land owner, Ta Ann and the government through the state Land Custody and Development Authority.

The company recently hosted a group from Indonesia and Japan for a site visit to find out more about effective peatland management for palm and forestry plantation, as well as peat fire prevention.

The visitors also observed peat compaction and water management.

They had earlier visited an oil palm plantation cultivated on tropical peatland in Miri.


Workers operating the water pump. Workers operating the water pump.

The delegation included Prof Emeritus Hisao Furukawa from Kyoto University, Japan, Dr Basuki Sumawinata from Bogor Agricultural University,Indonesia, Dr Lulie Melling from the Tropical Peat Research Laboratory Unit (TPRL), Dr Bandung Sahari, Tofan Mahdi, Parama Adi Wirasmo and Fenny Anggraeni Sofyan from the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) and Bapak Jahar Gultom from the Indonesian Consulate in Kuching.

According to Dr Lulie, there are three eddy covariance (EC) towers in Sarawak.

One is located in a national park, another in secondary forest while the third is in the Ta Ann oil palm plantation in Naman.

The tower captures and measures carbon dioxide released from oil palm.

“The world wants to know how much carbon dioxide is released from oil palm.

“Oil palm is a perennial crop which is planted once every 20 to 25 years whereas soya bean and rapeseed is cultivated annually.

“As such, the other oils release more carbon compared to palm oil,” she said.


Professor Hisao Furukawa from Kyoto University of Japan takingphotos of the peat pit. Professor Hisao Furukawa from Kyoto University of Japan takingphotos of the peat pit.

The visitors also got an up close look at a peat pit as well as its function to collect excess water from heavy rainfall.

Ta Ann general manager Shannon Yii said the success of their plantation was due to the support from residents of Rumah John Ujang Santak who had agreed to lease out their land for the project.

“Their participation is voluntary.

“From the 40-door longhouse, 37 of them have signed up to forge a joint venture for the project which is on NCR (Native Customary Right) land,” he added.

Longhouse headman John Ujang Santak said they were happy to participate in the project as otherwise the land would be left idle.’

Most of the longhouse residents were once subsistence farmers but now many of them are employed in the plantation as well as obtain other benefits from the joint-venture.


The EC tower measures carbon dioxide release from oil palm.