Vol. 23 (1) March 2023 – OPIEJ

DIGITAL MONITORING AND REPORTING SYSTEM OF OIL PALM FRESH FRUIT BUNCH (FFB) TRANSACTIONS: A CASE STUDY AMONG SUSTAINABLE OIL PALM GROWER COOPERATIVE IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

mpob_admin — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 07:43:40 +0000

Currently, there is a gap in Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) traceability among smallholders until it reached the oil palm mill via dealers. ICT-based intervention at the FFB dealers to record their daily transactions is able to address these issues. The need for this system arises due to the current limitation on getting more accurate and systematic data on the FFB transactions among smallholders. This article presents the development of an information technology (IT) system known as Kebolehjejakan Informasi Pekebun Kecil Sawit (KIPS) phase 2 to address the current gap in collecting data on FFB transactions among smallholders by linking dealer fruit (DF) via technology. Other than that, a case study and survey methodology among 14 Sustainable Oil Palm Grower Cooperative (KPSM) in Peninsular Malaysia was carried out to assess the adoption, challenges and effectiveness of the system as well as the understanding of their current record-keeping practices. KIPS portal system was developed with three user modules of admin, dealer fruit and smallholder. KPSM found KIPS is generally easy to use. However, the limiting factors were the time, performance and productivity in using KIPS which might hinder their attitude and behavioural intention to use KIPS. Lack of time and resources emerges as the main problem in using the KIPS system. Overall, most of the KPSM were able to submit their report through KIPS within the stipulated period. The findings of this study can serve as a basic framework for the development of a traceability system for various related industries.

The Intention To Adopt Green Pesticide Among Oil Palm Planters: Review Of The Extant Literature

mpob_admin — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:06:08 +0000

Pests and diseases can cause costly and irreparable harm to crops, especially oil palm. There are many methods that planters can adopt to manage them, and green pesticides can serve as an alternative solution. Preliminary research is carried out by adopting the theory of planned behaviour or TPB [attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control (PBC)] for a sound conceptual framework. This paper, therefore, investigates the determinant factors affecting Malaysian oil palm planters to adopt green pesticides. A comprehensive literature review was used as the methodology. The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) was proposed as a moderator to optimise the planters’ intention. Overall, 12 research propositions, recategorized in TPB, were discussed in this paper and identified as the factors affecting the oil palm planters’ intention to adopt green pesticides. The proposition will lead to future empirical findings which are anticipated to facilitate the industrial transition toward utilizing environmentally-friendly pesticides.

TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF OIL PALM PLASMA SMALLHOLDERS IN INDONESIA

mpob_admin — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:00:49 +0000

This study examines the technical efficiency and influencing factors of oil palm production by plasma smallholders in Indonesia. The common method of analysis for this type of study is the stochastic frontier method based on the translog production function. The agricultural business household income survey (2013) of the Central Statistics Agency was used as a secondary data source where there were 2438 oil palm plasma smallholders registered in the Indonesian oil palm sector. The study found that the average value of technical efficiency of these plasma smallholders is 0.59 which means that there is room for improvements to increase it further. East Kalimantan has the highest efficiency value, compared to other provinces. Moreover, education and association memberships of smallholders, and seed quality had positive effects but the effect is negative with age of the smallholders in the oil palm sector in Indonesia. The distribution of technical efficiency level of farmers showed that only 0.94% of plasma farmers were efficient in their production. The Indonesian government should emphasize training programmes for plasma farmers to improve their efficiency in production

SALCRA: Its Contributions To The Socio-economic Development Of Sarawak Rural Areas

mpob_admin — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:59:29 +0000

Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) is currently managing 19 oil palm estates for participants and five oil palm mills. These oil palm plantations and oil mills employ thousands of workers both professional and handymen/women. Our findings indicate that the oil palm industry has enhanced people’s economic well-being and has ensured that unutilised land is economically viable as a result of oil palm cultivation. At the same time, it is logical to argue that the oil palm plantations and oil mills have economically empowered many communities that are housing them directly and indirectly. Data from the field indicates that people around oil palm fields and those involved in the cultivation process show pictures of benevolent plants. Working within the premises of the Sarawak state government, SALCRA works to create a well-balanced urban and rural development based on a holistic development benefit for the people of Sarawak, regardless of their place of residence and work. The oil palm has different meanings depending on the informants involved. Furthermore, the SALCRA management team has continued to promote and implement a systematic development plan for Native Customary Rights land (NCR land) on a commercial basis.