Oil Palm Production Under Felda System of Land Management in Malaysia

Oil palm yield is controlled by environment such as average annual rainfall and its distribution, sun shine hours, land topography, soil types and agronomic practices employed. Oil palms in Malaysia produces the highest FFB yields compared to any other oil palm growing countries. This is attributed to the ideal climatic condition and well established agronomic technique used and efficient field management.

In Malaysia oil palm cultivation is categorized into two groups, first the private plantations which make about 59.45% with an area of 2,476,135 ha and the second is the smallholders group with 40.55% with an area of 1,689,080 ha. The smallholders group is divided into two. First, is the group smallholder schemes, such as Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) and Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (FELCRA). The second is the independent smallholders. The average annual FFB yields achieved by private plantation over a period of 6 years between 2001 to 2006 was 20.00 t/ha while the smallholders average over the same period was 17.16 t/ha. Oil palm FFB yields in various climatic regions in Malaysia are discussed. Malaysian vision for oil palm cultivation is to achieve 35.25 t/ha by the year 2020, that is to attain national average FFB yields of 35 t/ha and 25% of oil extraction rate. To achieve this aspiration, numerous strategies are being formulated towards improving the productivity. Various agronomic inputs are being tested in the field such as irrigation and rain water harnessing. The response of irrigated palms over a period of 16 years showed an average yield increase of 12 t/ha which represent 66% over the non-irrigated palms. In the same trial oil palm clones sustained yields of 30–40 t/ha for 12 years. MPOB has initiated the establishment of yield improvement centers all over the oil palm growing areas to transfer and to disseminate knowledge on the new oil palm technologies to independent oil palm smallholders. Integrated farming with cattle rearing is initiated in most oil palm areas. Oil palm field becomes the grazing ground for cattle and goats. Farmers get supplementary income from meat and milk production. Weeding cost and the use of herbicides is significantly reduced which is an environment friendly practice.