Seminar addresses challenges, opportunities faced by planters
SANDAKAN: The East Malaysia Planters’ Association (EMPA), in collaboration with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), organized a seminar on ‘Ensuring the Sustainability and Relevance of Small & Medium Estates (SME) in Sabah — Challenges and Opportunities’ for its members and invited guests.
The one-and-a-half-day seminar, on April 29 and 30 at Sabah Hotel Ballroom, was attended by 200 participants. The seminar aimed at addressing the challenges and opportunities faced by SME growers in the planting industry.
Organising chairman Thomas Lim who is also the deputy chairman-in-charge of EMPA, set the tone by emphasising its primary focus on addressing pertinent issues within SME.
By highlighting the importance of addressing these issues, such as sustainability and profitability, he underscored the seminar’s purpose of fostering improved agricultural practices.
This emphasis not only signals a commitment to enhancing the economic viability of SME but also reflects a broader dedication to promoting sustainability within the planting industry.
Meanwhile, MPOB Director-General Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Hj Ghulam Kadir made a special effort to record a video clip for the opening ceremony.
In his opening remarks, Parveez recorded the engagement and strong ties between MPOB and EMPA, after many years of collaboration.
He emphasised the significance of the seminar as a strategic platform to leverage information and applications for advancing the nation’s palm oil industry. Despite facing numerous challenges, the industry remains vital for food security, job creation, and infrastructure development in Sabah.
Efforts by MPOB to address these challenges include research, advisory services, innovation and technology, alongside the government’s oil palm replanting program offering grants and incentives to smallholders.
Furthermore, Parveez expressed his appreciation to the participants, not only members from EMPA and officers of MPOB but also invited guests from Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), Department of Agriculture (DOA), Malaysian Estate Owners’ Association (MEOA), The Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP) Sabah Northeast Branch, ISP Tawau Branch, Society of Agriculture Scientists Sabah (SASS), Chinese Chamber of Commerce Sandakan (CCCS), and Chinese Chamber of Commerce Tawau (CCCT).
The seminar agenda includes discussions on key topics such as Good Agriculture Practices, Outbreak of Mealybug and Sooty Mold Disease, Mechanisation, Sustainability of Small & Medium Estates, Sabah Agriculture Development Plan on Food Crops, and Other Crops.
EMPA sees this participation as an opportunity for its members to engage in the wider discussion on shaping a sustainable future for oil palm, coconut, and other crops. Through this seminar, where expertise and experience planters share insights with SME owners, mutual benefits and goals within the association have been achieved.
During Thomas’ closing speech, he spoke on behalf of the organising team, extending sincere gratitude to MPOB and all the participants for their invaluable support and contributions, which played a crucial role in the seminar’s success. He reaffirms that EMPA will continue to be the backbone of the plantation sector, defending and advocating for the rights of industry players, sharing economic benefits, and aiming to promote a strong and sustainable planting industry.