MELAKA, Nov 1 — The development of mechanisation in the oil palm plantation sector needs to be improved within three to five years as the best alternative in reducing the dependence on foreign labour, which has become increasingly critical recently.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng said as of 2021, the oil palm plantation sector, recorded almost 391,000 foreign workers, of which, 74 per cent were from Indonesia.

He said as of October 2022, the sector employed only 13,000 foreign workers, which basically required 100,000 foreign workers in the plantations nationwide while recruitment of local workers was very slow despite showing an increase of more than 0.6 per cent.

"Therefore, to reduce the impact of labour, especially involving oil palm harvesting activities, more than 35 machinery have been developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) as an alternative to address the shortage while, at the same time, attracting local youth to engage in the sector,” he said.

Wee told this to reporters in a briefing after officiating Labour and Mechanisation in Plantation Seminar (LAMP) 2022 here today.

Also present was MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir.

According to Wee, 20 to 30 per cent of the labour shortage could be resolved with the mechanisation technology that has been developed.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Parveez said innovation of more than 20 machine and engine designs in the oil palm plantation sector that was being developed would transform the country to be a nation with sophisticated, practical, safe and cost-effective mechanisation technology, especially in oil palm harvesting within the next three to five years time.

"Therefore, more workers can be allocated to other divisions such as management in view that more estate jobs can adopt technology, especially harvesting of fresh fruit bunches,” he said.

He said among the high-tech research and development projects being carried out included laser and ultrasonic technology, radio coordination as well as various harvesting technology while the machinery developed is for the collection, harvesting and maintenance of estates. — Bernama