It was a tiring two weeks as I spend most of time with international journalists who visited Malaysia Palm Oil, I am especially proud when they visited my homeland, Sandakan Oil Palm Plantation.
It wasn’t an easy job taking this people around because their pen is mightier than anyone C4! Aside from knowing a few friends from around the world, I got the opportunity to know more about my own Sandakan produce oil palm…
The team of international journalists who visited Malaysia are given a look at different aspects of the industry and brings into focus the ground realities
Malaysia may be producing most of the palm oil in the world but it is certainly not at the expense of logging and replacing natural forests with oil palm cultivation or loss of wildlife and their habitat.
Palm oil, it has been researched and proven, does not contribute to deforestation or destroys animal life and biodiversity. Those european countries who destroy most of their own forest has no rights or whatsoever to critize our forest!
Impressive efforts are being made by the Malaysian government to maintain a balance between growth and sustainability by utilising sound agricultural practices of Malaysian oil palm plantations that has led to a prosperous and sustainable production of palm oil.
This is the first time for a very long time that I feel proud about BN. Well done!
The Malaysian palm oil industry is nearly a century old and it has contributed significantly to improving the economy of Malaysia. With an area of 4.3 million hectares of plantations in 2007, Malaysia stood second in the world in terms of planted areas and produced nearly 15.8 million tonnes of palm oil in the same year.
Malaysia's palm oil, which is exported to many countries, particularly China, the European Union (EU), Pakistan, India and United States, has gained recognition for its consistent quality and regular supply. However, earlier it was not grown on authorised agriculture land or cultivated in gazetted forest reserve land.
This journalist was part of Press team whose members were invited from various countries by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) to attend an orientation programme with the aim of familiarising them with rational agricultural management adopted by MPOC to ensure sustainable palm oil industry. The International Palm Oil Sustainability (IPOSC) Conference 2008 provided an insight into the industry.
Some of the NGOs have been critical of Malaysia's palm oil industry, alleging that clearing of forest lands and expansion of oil palm cultivation had resulted in deforestation and loss of wildlife, notably, orangutan.
Malaysian palm oil exporters, too, have been facing scathing criticism from NGOs, forcing some end-users to boycott the use of palm oil, including the Malaysian palm oil. This boycott was initiated by the USA because their soya oil cant compete with our palm oil in terms of quantity per acre.
Palm oil, it has been researched and proven, does not contribute to deforestation or destroys animal life and biodiversity.
We visited the IJM Plantation (IJMP) Breeding Centre to get an insight into the Malaysian oil palm cultivation. We also visited the Quality, Training and Research Centre (QTRC) in Seas Estate, Beluran which ranks among the Top 10 Malaysian palm oil companies, as it gives special care to environment.
The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of IJMP, Velayuthan Tan Kim Song, said IJMP has been focusing on sustainable palm oil productivity, performance excellence, care for environment, and well-being of people and communities at large.
The IJMP has been using the best available agronomist practices in order to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. IJMP has also been open to stockholders' engagement that exerts efforts to spread awareness among indigenous workforce in its estate mills and research facilities as well.
Velayuthan said the group has continued to benefit from its recent intensive plantation programme and the land bank of the group by the end of the financial year of 2007 had increased to 29,807 hectares compared to the areas planted with oil palm trees that totalled 25,421 hectares in 2006.
During the visit to IJMP Quality, Training and Research Center (QTRC ) the journalists were briefed on oil palm breeding trials and techniques for improving the uptake of nutrients into the plant from the soil.
Purushothaman Kumaran, General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Finance of IJMP, stated that IJMP has adopted integrated pest management programmes that involved the use of various techniques, including biological control to maintain a high level of biodiversity in the estates such as diverse natural vegetations and assorted collection of breeding, multiplication of predatory insects and specifically beneficial plants.
At the QTRC, the official said that IJMP has adopted different approaches to minimise the use of pesticides. It has reduced the application of chemicals by focusing on biological control, including the use of beetles, birds and fungi to deal with common palm oil pathogens. QTRC has built owl boxes to attract rodent-eating barn owls, and planted native plant species to draw bats and other insectivores. Pesticides are used only when it is absolutely necessary.
The company employs highly selective application of insecticides to control the worst outbreaks. This is because the company relies on early detection of pests where large-scale applications are rarely needed.
Waste generated by the pressing of palm fruit during crude palm oil production is a general problem for processors. The by-products of palm oil pressing are non-toxic. However, they can't be safely discharged into local waterways due to their high acidity. QTRC addresses this issue by treating raw palm oil mill effluents (POME) with anaerobic bacteria.
IJMP also encourages reforestation in forested reserves, on steep slopes, and on land near catchments areas by using native species in the planted areas.
The company is aiming to "enhance the attractiveness and ability to sustain fauna diversity by planting food tree species already endemic in the areas such as mangrove trees."
Their efforts seem to be paying off. Surveys have recorded 268 species of flora and fauna, including 87 birds and 11 mammals, in oil palm plantations. While this is lower than those found in primary or even secondary forest areas, it represents an improvement over barren land or other monocultures.
The IJMP also maintains zero-burn policy in all its recycling plants and palm drip irrigation is being used in Desa Talisai Estate nursery as part of its improved irrigation system. This technology is environmentally-friendly for its low level of water requirement.
The IJMP palm oil mill endeavours zero waste management in the processing of palm oil fresh fruit bunches. Treated palm oil mill effluent is rolled back to the land, principally for irrigation, while empty fruit branches are shredded into fibres for conversion into value added bio-compost and help in replacing inorganic potash fertilisers.
After visiting the Quality, Training and Research Centre (QTRC), the journalists travelled by boat from Beluran to Sabang, exploring the beauty of the pristine mangrove forests and virgin rain forests that extended along the river. The mangroves are home to a large variety of flora and fauna.
Another wonderful sight in Sabang were the Sabang Christmas trees that have unique fire-flies that flicker brightly among the forest trees at night.
A 40-minute drive from Sabang takes one to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at Sepilok, home to the one of the most fascinating creatures, the orangutans, also known as 'man of the forest' because of their 94 per cent similarity to human genes.
Dr Sen Nethan, chief field veterinarian at the Sabah Wildlife Department, said the sanctuary that is funded by the Sabah government was established in 1964 with the aim of returning orphaned, injured or displaced orangutans back to the wild. Hundreds of orangutans rescued from logging sites, plantations and poaching areas have been rehabilitated at the Sepilok facility.
The cute creatures swing across 4,500 hectares of virgin Kabil-Sepilok forest that has rich tropical rainforests and mangrove swamps designated as reserves for the orangutans.
The rehabilitation process starts as soon as the orangutan is brought to the centre with a thorough health examination, followed by a quarantine period. Young orangutans at the nursery are quick to learn the skills that are essential to jungle life, such as finding food and building nests and even trapezing among the trees. Once the nursery caretakers are sure that the young orangutans have learnt the skills of existence in the wild, they are released into the forests to fend on their own.
Dr Nethan said that touching of orangutans is discouraged in order to prevent the spread of human diseases to the creatures.
Palm supports life
The International Palm Oil Sustainability Conference (IPOSC) held recently in Sabah, capital of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, aimed at promoting the virtues of palm oil and address environmental concerns as many green groups accuse palm oil industry of pollution.
At the conference, 21 papers dealing with various issues were presented. Among the topics discussed were palm oil cultivation and wetlands, wildlife conservation and environmental care.
Addressing the conference, the Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, highlighted the issues that the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) feels have been overlooked by environmental groups, including carbon emissions, governance, and use of pesticides and fertilisers.
Chin said that as a perennial tree crop with an economic life of 30 years, oil palm trees store more carbon than other oilseeds, notably soy and rapeseed. Additionally, as the world's most productive oilseed, oil palm cultivation does more to feed the world per unit of area than any other crop.
He noted that contrary to public perception, most of the palm oil goes to food production rather than biofuels. It supports life.
Chin discussed some of the environmentally-friendly initiatives, including a zero-burning policy and utilisation of waste.He also announced the official launch of the $6.4 million Malaysian Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund to sponsor studies on wildlife, oil palm and the environment.
Chin made special mention of the Borneo Conservation Trust, a project that seeks to verify the number of orangutans in Sabah. Presently, it is believed that there are some 12,000 orangutans in the state, a steep decline in the numbers since 1950.
It wasn’t an easy job taking this people around because their pen is mightier than anyone C4! Aside from knowing a few friends from around the world, I got the opportunity to know more about my own Sandakan produce oil palm…
The team of international journalists who visited Malaysia are given a look at different aspects of the industry and brings into focus the ground realities
Malaysia may be producing most of the palm oil in the world but it is certainly not at the expense of logging and replacing natural forests with oil palm cultivation or loss of wildlife and their habitat.
Palm oil, it has been researched and proven, does not contribute to deforestation or destroys animal life and biodiversity. Those european countries who destroy most of their own forest has no rights or whatsoever to critize our forest!
Impressive efforts are being made by the Malaysian government to maintain a balance between growth and sustainability by utilising sound agricultural practices of Malaysian oil palm plantations that has led to a prosperous and sustainable production of palm oil.
This is the first time for a very long time that I feel proud about BN. Well done!
The Malaysian palm oil industry is nearly a century old and it has contributed significantly to improving the economy of Malaysia. With an area of 4.3 million hectares of plantations in 2007, Malaysia stood second in the world in terms of planted areas and produced nearly 15.8 million tonnes of palm oil in the same year.
Malaysia's palm oil, which is exported to many countries, particularly China, the European Union (EU), Pakistan, India and United States, has gained recognition for its consistent quality and regular supply. However, earlier it was not grown on authorised agriculture land or cultivated in gazetted forest reserve land.
This journalist was part of Press team whose members were invited from various countries by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) to attend an orientation programme with the aim of familiarising them with rational agricultural management adopted by MPOC to ensure sustainable palm oil industry. The International Palm Oil Sustainability (IPOSC) Conference 2008 provided an insight into the industry.
Some of the NGOs have been critical of Malaysia's palm oil industry, alleging that clearing of forest lands and expansion of oil palm cultivation had resulted in deforestation and loss of wildlife, notably, orangutan.
Malaysian palm oil exporters, too, have been facing scathing criticism from NGOs, forcing some end-users to boycott the use of palm oil, including the Malaysian palm oil. This boycott was initiated by the USA because their soya oil cant compete with our palm oil in terms of quantity per acre.
Palm oil, it has been researched and proven, does not contribute to deforestation or destroys animal life and biodiversity.
We visited the IJM Plantation (IJMP) Breeding Centre to get an insight into the Malaysian oil palm cultivation. We also visited the Quality, Training and Research Centre (QTRC) in Seas Estate, Beluran which ranks among the Top 10 Malaysian palm oil companies, as it gives special care to environment.
The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of IJMP, Velayuthan Tan Kim Song, said IJMP has been focusing on sustainable palm oil productivity, performance excellence, care for environment, and well-being of people and communities at large.
The IJMP has been using the best available agronomist practices in order to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. IJMP has also been open to stockholders' engagement that exerts efforts to spread awareness among indigenous workforce in its estate mills and research facilities as well.
Velayuthan said the group has continued to benefit from its recent intensive plantation programme and the land bank of the group by the end of the financial year of 2007 had increased to 29,807 hectares compared to the areas planted with oil palm trees that totalled 25,421 hectares in 2006.
During the visit to IJMP Quality, Training and Research Center (QTRC ) the journalists were briefed on oil palm breeding trials and techniques for improving the uptake of nutrients into the plant from the soil.
Purushothaman Kumaran, General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Finance of IJMP, stated that IJMP has adopted integrated pest management programmes that involved the use of various techniques, including biological control to maintain a high level of biodiversity in the estates such as diverse natural vegetations and assorted collection of breeding, multiplication of predatory insects and specifically beneficial plants.
At the QTRC, the official said that IJMP has adopted different approaches to minimise the use of pesticides. It has reduced the application of chemicals by focusing on biological control, including the use of beetles, birds and fungi to deal with common palm oil pathogens. QTRC has built owl boxes to attract rodent-eating barn owls, and planted native plant species to draw bats and other insectivores. Pesticides are used only when it is absolutely necessary.
The company employs highly selective application of insecticides to control the worst outbreaks. This is because the company relies on early detection of pests where large-scale applications are rarely needed.
Waste generated by the pressing of palm fruit during crude palm oil production is a general problem for processors. The by-products of palm oil pressing are non-toxic. However, they can't be safely discharged into local waterways due to their high acidity. QTRC addresses this issue by treating raw palm oil mill effluents (POME) with anaerobic bacteria.
IJMP also encourages reforestation in forested reserves, on steep slopes, and on land near catchments areas by using native species in the planted areas.
The company is aiming to "enhance the attractiveness and ability to sustain fauna diversity by planting food tree species already endemic in the areas such as mangrove trees."
Their efforts seem to be paying off. Surveys have recorded 268 species of flora and fauna, including 87 birds and 11 mammals, in oil palm plantations. While this is lower than those found in primary or even secondary forest areas, it represents an improvement over barren land or other monocultures.
The IJMP also maintains zero-burn policy in all its recycling plants and palm drip irrigation is being used in Desa Talisai Estate nursery as part of its improved irrigation system. This technology is environmentally-friendly for its low level of water requirement.
The IJMP palm oil mill endeavours zero waste management in the processing of palm oil fresh fruit bunches. Treated palm oil mill effluent is rolled back to the land, principally for irrigation, while empty fruit branches are shredded into fibres for conversion into value added bio-compost and help in replacing inorganic potash fertilisers.
After visiting the Quality, Training and Research Centre (QTRC), the journalists travelled by boat from Beluran to Sabang, exploring the beauty of the pristine mangrove forests and virgin rain forests that extended along the river. The mangroves are home to a large variety of flora and fauna.
Another wonderful sight in Sabang were the Sabang Christmas trees that have unique fire-flies that flicker brightly among the forest trees at night.
A 40-minute drive from Sabang takes one to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at Sepilok, home to the one of the most fascinating creatures, the orangutans, also known as 'man of the forest' because of their 94 per cent similarity to human genes.
Dr Sen Nethan, chief field veterinarian at the Sabah Wildlife Department, said the sanctuary that is funded by the Sabah government was established in 1964 with the aim of returning orphaned, injured or displaced orangutans back to the wild. Hundreds of orangutans rescued from logging sites, plantations and poaching areas have been rehabilitated at the Sepilok facility.
The cute creatures swing across 4,500 hectares of virgin Kabil-Sepilok forest that has rich tropical rainforests and mangrove swamps designated as reserves for the orangutans.
The rehabilitation process starts as soon as the orangutan is brought to the centre with a thorough health examination, followed by a quarantine period. Young orangutans at the nursery are quick to learn the skills that are essential to jungle life, such as finding food and building nests and even trapezing among the trees. Once the nursery caretakers are sure that the young orangutans have learnt the skills of existence in the wild, they are released into the forests to fend on their own.
Dr Nethan said that touching of orangutans is discouraged in order to prevent the spread of human diseases to the creatures.
Palm supports life
The International Palm Oil Sustainability Conference (IPOSC) held recently in Sabah, capital of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, aimed at promoting the virtues of palm oil and address environmental concerns as many green groups accuse palm oil industry of pollution.
At the conference, 21 papers dealing with various issues were presented. Among the topics discussed were palm oil cultivation and wetlands, wildlife conservation and environmental care.
Addressing the conference, the Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, highlighted the issues that the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) feels have been overlooked by environmental groups, including carbon emissions, governance, and use of pesticides and fertilisers.
Chin said that as a perennial tree crop with an economic life of 30 years, oil palm trees store more carbon than other oilseeds, notably soy and rapeseed. Additionally, as the world's most productive oilseed, oil palm cultivation does more to feed the world per unit of area than any other crop.
He noted that contrary to public perception, most of the palm oil goes to food production rather than biofuels. It supports life.
Chin discussed some of the environmentally-friendly initiatives, including a zero-burning policy and utilisation of waste.He also announced the official launch of the $6.4 million Malaysian Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund to sponsor studies on wildlife, oil palm and the environment.
Chin made special mention of the Borneo Conservation Trust, a project that seeks to verify the number of orangutans in Sabah. Presently, it is believed that there are some 12,000 orangutans in the state, a steep decline in the numbers since 1950.
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