Oil Palm Smallholders Urged To Seize MSPO Certification Opportunity
SARIKEI: Oil palm smallholders in Sarawak have been urged to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification through the Sustainable Palm Oil Cluster (SPOC) initiative provided by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii, said the certification is vital to ensure that small planters remain competitive and are able to meet the demands of the global market, which is increasingly placing emphasis on sustainability.
He added that this is particularly relevant to the Dayak community, who form the backbone of the smallholder oil palm sector in Sarawak.
"With a total of 43,916 individuals, the Dayak community represents the largest group of smallholders in Sarawak. I can therefore say with confidence that oil palm and the Dayak community are inseparable," he said.
He made these remarks at the Closing Ceremony of the ARAM BESAWIT 2026 Programme organised by the Dayak Oil Palm Planters Association of Sarawak (DOPPA) at Dewan Suarah Sarikei on Saturday.
He noted that oil palm is not merely a commercial crop, but a source of income that secures the education of children and the future of generations to come.
Dato Sri Huang, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Sarikei, commended the participation of approximately 300 participants in the programme, which covered various important aspects of the palm oil industry, including fertilisation techniques, weed control, environmental safety, licensing, fresh fruit bunch grading, and international issues such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
He said the palm oil industry is now facing a range of new challenges at the global level, and knowledge-based programmes such as ARAM BESAWIT serve as an important platform to ensure that smallholders are not left behind in the tide of industry developments.
At the same event, he also presented a contribution of RM10,000 to DOPPA in support of the association's annual activities. -UKASnews
