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The successful implementation of MSPO certification is thought to have necessitated commitment from oil palm smallholders, who play a significant role in the expansion of oil palm and are key players in the global oil palm industry. Despite existing research on the subject, there is a significant gap in understanding the influence of commitment on oil palm smallholders' readiness for MSPO certification. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of oil palm smallholders' commitment on their readiness to obtain MSPO certification. The population of this study included all of Sarawak's oil palm smallholders. The collected 441 complete responses were analysed using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed that the commitment of oil palm smallholders significantly influenced their readiness to obtain MSPO certification. This study has several practical implications for relevant parties such as the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) and the Malaysian Oil Palm Board (MPOB) in addressing MSPO certification issues more effectively, as MSPO implementation among smallholders provides competitive advantages for Malaysian palm oil and promotes Malaysian sustainable product globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the First World War, the British needed a cheap supply of raw materials to support the mother country's industry sector keeps operating. Hence, the imperial economic policy was implemented in the colonies which caused the colonial economic activities to be subordinated to the metropolitan. Following this development, this article analyses the form of metropolitan control over Malaya's agricultural sector through the role played by the Department of Agriculture. The impact of this control is assessed based on the diversity of colonial agriculture that then leads to the development of tropical crops besides rubber. The development of oil palm, coconut and tea as commercial crops is influenced by high demand in the empire market, especially in London. This study uses CO 717 and 576 records to prove metropolitan control over the Department of Agriculture's operations, while the Federated Malay States (FMS) report is used to analyse the impact of colonial agricultural diversity in Malaya. This study found that colonial agricultural diversity is more dominant in the FMS which is the major exporter of tropical commodities from Malaya. For this reason, the British only combined the administration of the FMS' Agriculture Department with the Straits Settlements, whereas the Unfederated Malay States only received the services of the Department of Agriculture from the FMS. Although the Department of Agriculture plays a significant role in carrying out agriculture research, the outcome of the development of commercial agriculture was only dominated by European planters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the oil palm industry in Malaysia began in 1917 with the establishment of the first oil palm plantation in Tennamaran, Selangor. Subsequently, the establishment of oil palm plantations increased dramatically in the early 1960s when FELDA opened up large-scale plantations in line with the Government's policy to eradicate poverty. Presently, oil palm has become one of Malaysia's most important commodity crops. The value chain of the palm oil industry is divided into three segments, namely upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. The upstream sector consists of seedling preparation activities, planting, and harvesting of fresh fruits bunches (FFBs). The midstream sector is the manufacturing process that involves the processing and refining of FFB which is harvested from the plantation or collected from smallholders to produce crude palm oil. Eventually, crude palm oil will be further treated in the downstream sector to be stored or marketed either domestically or exported before eventually reaching the consumers. The final product is usually a food product. Albeit the various successes achieved by the palm oil industry within the 100 years of progress in Malaysia, there are various issues and challenges faced by the country's palm oil industry. As such, this study aims to (i) identify the main issues and challenges of Malaysia's palm oil upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors and (ii) carry out comparisons related to the key issues and challenges of the Indonesian palm oil industry as Malaysia's main competitor. This study applied the qualitative approach in investigating issues and challenges of the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors of the palm oil industry. In-depth, interviews were employed as the main research instrument, and document analysis was conducted to support the results obtained from the in-depth interview. The study found that among the main issues of the country's palm oil industry are labor shortages, environmental sustainability of oil palm plantation and palm oil manufacturing, negative perceptions towards palm oil from the international community, and trade barriers. These issues and challenges need to be addressed effectively, including diplomatic relations as well as increasing consumer confidence in palm oil products, which requires a strategic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern technology is used in the cultivation of oil palm which is a commodity crop for Malaysia such as oil palm trees such as seed production, fertilizer, use of machinery, and others. With this, oil palm productivity can be improved and at the same time the country's oil palm yield achieves high quality. The purpose of this study is to identify the perception of the use of modern technology in oil palm plantations. The research method uses the quantitative method of correlation by collecting respondents of specific oil palm plantations that is a total of 167 respondents required. All respondents in this study are smallholders of oil palm, both male and female because this study focuses on their perceptions on the use of modern technology in oil palm plantations. To identify the perception of the use of modern technology in oil palm plantations is divided into two components, namely the components of efficiency and innovation. The findings of this study found that the mean for the innovation component is 4.24 which shows the perception for the application of technology such as the use of bulldozers to facilitate digging soil and push oil palm trees. Modern technology greatly influences the use of modern technology in oil palm plantations. The study also found that the total mean for the efficiency component is 4.24 which shows that the perception of smallholders on this component is modern technology benefiting oil palm farmers by facilitating their work and also increasing oil palm productivity. In conclusion, the perception of smallholders on the use of modern technology is more positive where it can increase income and improve lives. Nevertheless, the views put forward need to be put into practice in the lives of whether oil palm smallholders apply this technology in carrying out this endeavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Malaysian palm oil industry is the most important source of refined palm oil imports to the global palm oil production market after successfully overcoming Indonesia when it won a lower duty on imports of refined palm oil. The palm oil industry is also Malaysia's largest agricultural export which accounts for 2.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 4.5 percent of exports. The large contribution of the palm oil industry must offer the largest economic resources in terms of employment opportunities and income to Malaysians, especially smallholders of oil palm both in the upstream and downstream sectors. However, issues of environmental pollution such as large-scale land use, deforestation, and burning of forests leading to increased carbon dioxide emissions, further affecting the human and other ecosystems have been propagated by the European Union as a ajor problem and difficult to accept in globally. This problem makes the market value of palm oil commodities volatile and dependence on oil palm resources alone has affected the income of oil palm smallholders for the upstream and downstream sectors that serve as alternative sources, as well as examining the impact of oil palm cultivation on the economy, social, and their environment. A total of 30 smallholders and the Mah Meri Orang Asli community in Carey Island, Selangor were interviewed using a set of questionnaires. Cronbach Alpha and Realibility analysis was used to test the realibility and the results of the study found that the Realibility Statistics for the variables Level of Tendency, Level of Involvement and Impact showed that all three had a Cronbach Alpha (a) value of more than 0.60 with the value of all three variables is 0.859. Meanwhile, the values of the respective variables namely Level of Tendency (0.885), Level of Involvement (0.889), and Impact (0.691) were obtained. The involvement of these oil palm smallholders proves that they are interested in obtaining information related to oil palm, in addition to generating employment and business opportunities that yield income to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In ensuring the agricultural sector remains competitive, the government has introduced fertilizer subsidy schemes to farmers. The objectives of this scheme are to help ease the burden of farmers as well as to optimize agricultural yields, especially for the paddy, rubber and oil palm sectors. However, there is still a leak in the distribution of fertilizer scheme which has caused the loss of millions of ringgit to the country. This is a commercial crime that needs to be eradicated immediately because it involves issues of integrity, corruption and breach of trust. Thus, this paper discusses the factors of malpractice and analyzes the relevant legal provisions on the issue of leakage of fertilizer subsidy scheme descriptively. The leakage problem needs to be addressed immediately in ensuring that fertilizer subsidy schemes can be delivered to farmers smoothly. The distribution of fertilizer schemes needs to be managed transparently in accordance with the law and give benefit to farmers in achieving more lucrative returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq), a native plant grown in West Africa, is the world's most productive tropical vegetable oil. In the early 1870s, the British brought the African oil palm to Malaysia as an ornamental plant. A Frenchman, Henri Fauconnier, was responsible for establishing the first oil palm plantation in 1917 at Tennamaram Estate, Selangor. Palm oil production is essential for the Malaysian economy - producing as the second-largest volume of commodities in the world after Indonesia. There are 5.90 million hectares of trees planted in 2019 (Parveez et al., 2020). The independent smallholder (ISH) sector is a small-scale production entity. Hence it is generally seen that this sector is inefficient and unproductive compared to the mass production system of the estate sector. However, the lack of exposure to knowledge in good fertilizer practices is a significant factor influencing the low production of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) for independent smallholders (ISH) in Malaysia. A total of 1147 respondents were selected to be part of this study and were interviewed on their sociodemographic background, garden characteristics, knowledge, and practice of fertilizer application. Respondents were selected based on random sampling from each state in Malaysia. This study was conducted in 2015-2016 to examine their good fertilizer practices and their demographics. The majority of respondents are men aged 45 to 69 years, with their level of education being in secondary school. The average age of smallholders is 55 years, with average land ownership of 3.54 ha. They invest RM1019.19 on the purchase of fertilizer per hectare per year, with an average price of RM 87.77 at a weight of 50 kg per bag. Research show that the majority of respondents have general knowledge of the good fertilizer's practices. However, application rates of fertilizer by smallholders still lower than recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall in crude oil prices and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic since early 2020 have negatively affected the income of palm oil smallholders. To increase income, the group is encouraged to participate in rural economic activities such as small business, livestock farming and vegetables or fruit cultivation. However, there is a research gap in the context of how entrepreneurial activities recommended by industry practitioners and previous researchers can be effectively implemented. The average ages of smallholder who are over 60 years old and have high levels of comfort in oil palm farming activities is unlikely to support dynamic entrepreneurship activities. Therefore, we expect that the involvement of smallholders in entrepreneurship activities should be inculcate through a more specific assimilation process. Accordingly, this article aims to investigate the application of the Model of Rural Entrepreneurship Skills as a catalyst for income generation of post-Covid-19. This study has conducted through a qualitative approach by identifying the rural entrepreneurship skills among selected respondents in the State of Perak. The skills that carry out rural entrepreneurship activities is appropriate to palm oil smallholders' capacity, resources and ecosystems. The results shows three rural entrepreneurship skills that need to be applied namely, personal skills, interaction skills and business process planning and management skills. As an implication, this study provide new insights into rural entrepreneurship skills that have the potential impact on the income generation of palm oil smallholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of palm oil production is amazing. Around 10 percent of the world's permanent cropland has been used for global oil palm planting area. Among them, 85% of palm oil is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil has increased the income of populations of the two countries, especially farmers. But there is at cost, the environment is devastating, and labour rights and human rights are repeatedly violated. The objective of this study is to explore sustainable palm oil farming practices conducted by Orang Asli smallholders. This study was carried out in one of the indigenous villages located in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia - Kampung Sungai Mai, Jerantut, Pahang. Employing qualitative method, eight indigenous farmers were interviewed periodically through simple random sampling and snowballing. The study results show that the orang Asli farmers are working towards land ownership as prerequisite of MSPO. Family farming as next step to sustainable farming and deforestation is curbed by oil palm cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a variation in climate patterns due to natural and anthropogenic causes that affect human activity and natural ecosystems. Future projections (2025-2034 and 2041-2050) indicate increases in surface temperature of between 1.6 - 2.3°C and extreme rainfall events (between -55% to +68%) in Kuala Selangor, compared to previous levels (1984-1993). Sea-level rise projected for 2100 is about 0.5 m. Climate change poses a serious threat to humans and natural ecosystems in the coastal zone of Kuala Selangor. The projected increase in surface temperature is expected to reduce the yield from paddy and oil palm plantations. Extreme climate and hydrological conditions are expected to contribute to this decline. Projected sea level rise will increase the susceptibility of low-lying areas to coastal inundation and compromise existing land use. Almost 91% of the exposed components are agricultural and forest areas while the rest comprises transport, residential, infrastructure, business, public institutions and industy (including aquaculture). In addition, the potential for saline intrusion into groundwater aquifers increases as the sea level rises and this has implications for fresh groundwater resource. The implications of climate change in Kuala Selangor can be addressed by undertaking adaptive measures that take into account both surface and sub-surface aspects, which are then integrated into the coastal zone planning policy. Effective adaptation involves the collection of scientific information, risk assessment, determination of adaptation objectives, assessment of adaptation options, selection of appropriate adaptation measures, planning, implementation and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]