ali zulhusni ali nordin – OPIEJ https://opiej.mpob.gov.my Oil Palm Industry Economic Journal Thu, 21 Mar 2019 01:57:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 An Economic Study on Technical Efficiency among Independent Oil Palm Smallholders in Sabah and Sarawak https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/an-economic-study-on-technical-efficiency-among-independent-oil-palm-smallholders-in-sabah-and-sarawak/ Wed, 29 Aug 2018 00:23:22 +0000 https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/?p=389 Read more]]> Malaysia was once known as the largest producer and exporter of palm oil until its position was taken over by Indonesia. The limitation in Malaysia in terms of land availability for new planting of oil palm has pushed the focus on technology and resources to efficiency and productivity in oil palm cultivation. At present, Malaysia is the second largest palm oil producer in the world, and may well be the third in future if no holistic strategy is charted to maintain her premier position in the industry. Rapid development and the increasing trend in the number of smallholders planting oil palm have posed another challenge to maintaining high productivity of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production. Therefore, studies on social perception and factors affecting efficiency among the independent oil palm smallholders are deemed important. The present study found that the FFB yield achieved by independent smallholders in Sabah and Sarawak can be further improved. Among the factors that contributed to inefficiency among these independent smallholders are inadequate fertiliser application, Ganoderma disease, high pest infestation, deficiency of nutrients in the oil palm, increasing cost of production and the unpredictable extreme weather conditions. The study focused only on Sabah and Sarawak as it is an extension of a previous study which had been carried out on smallholders in Peninsular Malaysia. It is recommended that the government continues its policy of assisting independent oil palm smallholders in order to maintain or increase their productivity.

Keywords: technical efficiency, independent oil palm smallholders, productivity

]]> Bulking Installations in Malaysia: Their Issues and Challenges Relating to the Palm Oil Industry https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/bulking-installations-in-malaysia-their-issues-and-challenges-relating-to-the-palm-oil-industry/ Wed, 29 Aug 2018 00:10:50 +0000 https://opiej.mpob.gov.my/?p=368 Read more]]> Bulking installations are facilities for the storage of crude and refined palm oils in port tanks until they are ready to be piped directly into the tankers which berth at nearby jetties in the port. This study covers six regions, namely, the southern region, central region, northern region, east coast region as well as Sabah and Sarawak. The purpose of the article is to provide information regarding the export trends of bulking installation facilities in Malaysia. The method used in the study is faceto-face interviews and a survey to determine the issues and challenges faced by the various bulking installation facilities. The major issues and challenges faced during the handling of transshipment cargo were determined from all the interviews and field visits undertaken, especially in the northern region. It was found that different issues and challenges were faced by the operators of bulking installation facilities in the different regions.

Keywords: bulking installation facilities, palm oil logistics, palm oil

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