Saturday February 3, 2007


3/2/07 (The Star)  -  KUALA LUMPUR: New Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman Datuk Sabri Ahmad will emphasise market-driven research and development (R&D) to ensure the sustainable growth of the industry.

In a statement yesterday, Sabri said under his stewardship, the MPOB would be able to cater to the needs of the industry more efficiently, especially in terms of R&D.

“Although Indonesia has surpassed us in the production of crude palm oil (CPO), business-driven R&D will give our industry the competitive edge.''

He said R&D initiatives would also be focused on finding new ways to meet the increasing demand for CPO for both edible and non-edible use.

On ensuring sustainable development in the country's oil palm, Sabri said MPOB would also address natural constraints such as diminishing availability of land for expansion, scarce labour and the unpredictability of weather.

“Our efforts will be focused on getting better productivity and cost-effectiveness per hectare, producing high-yield planting material, cost-effective fertilisation process, hardy and adaptive palm trees through cloning,” he said.

Sabri succeeds the late Tan Sri Basir Ismail, who served as the first chairman until Dec 31, 2006. – Bernama