Malaysia committed to cap total oil palm planted area at 6.5m hectares

Cap on planted area means the country must accelerate productivity through technology, while addressing issues such as shortage of foreign workers.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will maintain its plan to limit total oil palm cultivated area at 6.5 million hectares, according to Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry Secretary General Ravi Muthayah.

* Malaysia will also ban conversion of permanent forest reserved area for oil palm cultivation, no new planting will be allowed in peatland areas, Ravi said at an online industry conference Tuesday.