THE Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) opines that significant strides have been made in mechanising a multitude of non-harvesting operations within oil palm plantations, including in-field crop evacuation, fertilisation application and weeding. The integration of cutting-edge technologies such as drones and digitalisation has also further enhanced operational efficiency.
Despite these advancements, the key challenge lies in the absence of effective mechanisation solutions for essential harvesting-related tasks, specifically cutting and collecting loose fruit. Harvesters in non-mechanised oil palm operations constitute up to around 50% of the workforce, underscoring the pivotal role these tasks play in the industry.
