I was passing through Felda Inas, Kota Tinggi, Johor yesterday when I witnessed this interesting phenomenon whereby immature young oil palm trees grow side by side with fallen matured trees which is waiting for decomposition.... that's why I call it fallen heroes. Most of the oil palm plantations in the south west Johor area are in the state of replanting and that explains why a number of palm oil mills in the vicinity are facing shortage of crop and affected its utilisation rate. The government agency that manage the oil palm estates in this picture is FELDA (Federal Land Development Authority) under its land development scheme.
At macro level, the declining contribution to world palm oil output is partly attributed to the lower production due to the increase in the aged oil palm trees. It is important that old palms, which are less economic to maintain be replanted, hence ensuring a continuous productive Malaysian oil palm industry. Normally, the age of oil palm economically suitable for replanting is 25 years. Generally, oil palm reaches its peak yield of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) between the 6th and 12th year after planting. Thereafter, the yield gradually decreases which erodes profit margin of plantation companies.
Replanting program of oil palm are undertaken through a systematic replanting plan and should incorporate the usage of high quality seeds for better future yield and improved technology and management system.
Malaysia has banned open burning of old oil palm biomass during replanting. The most widely adopted zero burn techniques of replanting oil palms in Malaysia are currently the "chipped and windrow" and "underplanting" methods. Planters have to wary about the breeding of Oryctes rhinocerous beetles which are serious pests in immature young palms. Almost entire palms are pulverised into fine pieces and spread widely over the entire field and the root mass dug up. The new clearing methods reduced the fallow period, facilitated replanting and the subsequent field upkeep work, improved the utilisation of nutrients released by the decomposing palm biomass by the newly replanted palms. The methods of clearing old oil palms for replanting are environmentally less polluting and also improve the sustainability of oil palm plantations. If you are to drive along Kluang-Johor Bahru route, you will see oil palms fringing the roadsides whereby mostly are under replanting stage.
At macro level, the declining contribution to world palm oil output is partly attributed to the lower production due to the increase in the aged oil palm trees. It is important that old palms, which are less economic to maintain be replanted, hence ensuring a continuous productive Malaysian oil palm industry. Normally, the age of oil palm economically suitable for replanting is 25 years. Generally, oil palm reaches its peak yield of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) between the 6th and 12th year after planting. Thereafter, the yield gradually decreases which erodes profit margin of plantation companies.
Replanting program of oil palm are undertaken through a systematic replanting plan and should incorporate the usage of high quality seeds for better future yield and improved technology and management system.
Malaysia has banned open burning of old oil palm biomass during replanting. The most widely adopted zero burn techniques of replanting oil palms in Malaysia are currently the "chipped and windrow" and "underplanting" methods. Planters have to wary about the breeding of Oryctes rhinocerous beetles which are serious pests in immature young palms. Almost entire palms are pulverised into fine pieces and spread widely over the entire field and the root mass dug up. The new clearing methods reduced the fallow period, facilitated replanting and the subsequent field upkeep work, improved the utilisation of nutrients released by the decomposing palm biomass by the newly replanted palms. The methods of clearing old oil palms for replanting are environmentally less polluting and also improve the sustainability of oil palm plantations. If you are to drive along Kluang-Johor Bahru route, you will see oil palms fringing the roadsides whereby mostly are under replanting stage.
3 comments:
Hey thats great info you are sharing, thanks.
You know what, one of the big pengarah from MARA just asked me about this blog owner. He really likes your article on the fallen heroes.
Really Hanafi? Glad I started to be recognised. That will be a motivational spin off for my next postings which is starting to delay due to my super hectic schedule.No excuse rite?
Post a Comment