New oil palm breed, new opportunity for smallholders

Change of phase: Wee (left) visiting the registration booth of the ‘Jom MSPO’ (Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil) programme held at a community hall in Simpang Renggam, Johor.

SIMPANG RENGGAM: A new breed of oil palm is expected to be introduced by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) that will make it easier for smallholders to grow and harvest the produce.

Primary Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said the trees of the new breed were shorter but would produce the same amount of harvest as current variants being planted by smallholders.