19/5/06 (The Star)  - NEW clonal oil palm seeds, developed by United Plantations Bhd (UPB), were unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdul-lah Ahmad Badawi at Jenderata Estate near Teluk Intan. 

Named the ‘Sawit Perdana Series’ after the prime minister, the seeds were developed from selected parent Dura and Pisifera clones.

The seeds were launched during Abdullah’s visit to the estate yesterday. The prime minister also launched UPB’s new planting materials unit.

The fruits from the Sawit Perdana Series have oil content of 28.5% with yields of up to 10 metric tonnes per hectare compared to the 25% oil con- tent for normal hybrids, which yield six metric tonnes per hectare.

Among those present during Abdullah’s visit were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali, Deputy Infor-mation Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Bagan Datoh MP, UPB chairman Tan Sri Dr Johari Mat, vice-chairman and corporate affairs executive director Carl Bek-Nielsen and finance and marketing executive director Martin Bek-Nielsen.