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Last Updated: 22 July 2024

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Petaling Jaya : Malaysia has secured the backing of India, the world’s largest palm oil importer, in combating the anti-palm oil campaign propagated by Western nations.

At a roundtable in New Delhi yesterday attended by plantation and commodities minister Johari Ghani, the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers Association (IVPA) voiced unequivocal support for Malaysia’s stand.

Johari was on a two-day trip to the Indian capital city from July 17 to 18.

IVPA president Sudhakar Desai said the ongoing anti-palm oil campaign poses a threat to the commodity, an essential good for the 1.4 billion consumers in India.

He called for targeted campaigns in response, aimed at shining light on the sustainability and economic benefits of palm oil, to combat concerns of climate change and deforestation.

Another approach, Sudhakar said, would be to work with think tanks and research institutions to highlight unbiased studies about the commodity.

The findings of these studies should then be used as part of marketing and advocacy campaigns to build the trust of consumers in palm oil, the head of the association in India said.

Speaking at the roundtable’s dialogue session, Johari said palm oil was the most efficient edible oil in terms of productivity and land use.

He said oil palm trees occupy less than 8% of the total area of land dedicated to crops, yet produce 32% of major seed oil.

Due to its low cost, high-yielding nature and consistent availability, palm oil boasts the highest yield among vegetable oils, producing 3.3 tonnes per hectare of oil compared to soybean (0.5), sunflower (0.8), and rapeseed (0.8),  he said, according to a press release.

Johari said India would continue to be a key trade partner for Malaysia, which remains committed to supplying the South Asian country with high quality and sustainably produced palm oil.

The European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) introduced in November 2021 is aimed at limiting deforestation caused by the consumption of agricultural commodities and products around the world.

The EUDR lists palm oil as one of the commodities that drive deforestation and forest degradation through the expansion of agricultural land.

In April, Johari urged the EU to end its arbitrary and unjustifiable discrimination against palm oil

, and to act fairly in enforcing its strict environmental and sustainability laws and targets.

Yesterday, the minister said Malaysia’s palm oil exports to India would continue to rise in line with the growth of India’s middle-class consumer base.

Malaysia’s exports of palm oil and palm oil products to India last year totalled 3.3 million tonnes, valued at US$3 billion (RM14 billion), or 13% of Malaysia’s total palm oil exports.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/07/19/malaysia-gets-indias-backing-in-fight-against-anti-palm-oil-campaign/

Sumber : Free Malaysia Today

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Last Updated: 18 July 2024

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KUCHING, Jan 22 — Sarawak’s total export value of timber and timber products dropped from RM3.9 billion in 2022 to RM3.1 billion in 2023, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said tonight.

He said the export value of logs was RM559 million or 18 per cent of the overall export value while the export of timber products was RM2.6 billion.

“For Sarawak, Japan is still the largest market contributing about 53 per cent or RM1.7 billion export earnings in 2023,” he said in his speech at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and Malaysian Panel-Products Manufactures’ Association.

His speech was read by Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh.

Awang Tengah, who is also the second minister for natural resources and urban development, said plywood remains the main product produced with an export value of RM1.5 billion, contributing about 48 per cent of the total export earnings.

“It appears that the primary products are still the main timber products for export,” he said, urging the timber players to transform their activities and operations towards production of high-value-added products by utilising raw materials from planted forests.

He said the state government will continue to strengthen the downstream industry to include biomass, furniture, bamboo and engineered wood.

He added biomass products have huge potential in the establishment of a green economy in Sarawak.

He said biomass products like wood pellets, biochar and charcoal briquettes have massive demand in the global market due to being environmentally friendly.

He said Sarawak has exported wood pellets to Japan, France and Korea at an export value of RM36 million.

Awang Tengah said STIDC has prepared its proposal on Engineered Wood Product Blueprint which will be tabled at its board meeting tomorrow morning for approval.

“This important document provides guidelines and a way forward for the timber industry in Sarawak insofar as the engineered wood industry is concerned,” he said.

He said another initiative by STIDC is developing the bamboo industry in Sarawak.

He said the global export value of bamboo products in 2022 was US$66.2 billion (RM312 billion) and estimated to increase by 4 per cent annually.

Awang Tengah said Malaysia’s export value of bamboo products for 2022 is RM8.4 million while in Sarawak the market value is RM1.2 million.

He said he believes that there is a huge potential in biomass, engineered wood and bamboo industries that must be tapped as a game changer and landscape transformation for the timber industry in Sarawak.

The MoU related to Forest Management, Practices and Research and Development (R&D) in licenced planted forests and on-job training and placement in the timber industry.

https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/sarawak-total-export-value-timber-141401615.html

Sumber : Malaysia News Yahoo

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Last Updated: 18 July 2024

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and the world's largest importer of palm oil, India, will work together to counter the anti-palm oil campaign by the West.

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said India which imported 3.3 million metric tonne of palm oil worth RM13.3 billion from Malaysia in 2023, is championing Malaysia's palm oil products growth and export potential.

"India wants us to emphasise on sustainable palm oil production that can be exported to many more countries," he said.

India's push should be motivation enough for local industry players to ramp up sustainable palm oil production.

Johari is in New Delhi leading the Malaysian Agricommodity Economic Mission to India from July 17 to 18, to strengthen bilateral trade relationship and explore new cooperation opportunities.

"Industry players should start thinking about sustainable palm oil production and we hope they will continue to focus on increasing productivity," he said.

Today, Johari met with representatives from Adani Wilmar Ltd, a joint venture that has been in operation for over 25 years in India, an importer of palm oil products from Malaysia.

Tomorrow, he is scheduled to pay a courtesy call to the Indian Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare to discuss issues and proposals related to trade cooperation in the agricommodity sector of both countries.

Johari will also hold an engagement session with Indian vegetable oil industry players and will deliver a keynote address at the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers Association (IVPA) Global Roundtable 3.0 Conference at IVPA's recommendation.

The round table conference will be attended by leaders of the Indian vegetable oil industry.

India is a main export market for Malaysia's palm oil followed by China.

https://www.nst.com.my/amp/business/economy/2024/07/1077901/malaysia-and%C2%A0india%C2%A0-work-together-counter-anti-palm-oil-campaigns

Sumber : New Straits Times

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Last Updated: 18 July 2024

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Smallholders are instrumental in Southeast Asia’s palm oil production. Indonesia alone, they cultivate roughly 41 per cent of the land dedicated to oil palm, while in Malaysia, that number is at least 27 per cent. Globally, smallholders are responsible for roughly 35 per cent to 40 per cent of the world’s total oil palm plantations. Therefore, as global concerns about sustainability increase, smallholders play an important role in sustainability initiatives.

However, the path to sustainability is not always smooth for smallholders. Meeting certification standards, like those set by industry watchdog the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), can be complex and costly for those with limited resources. Stringent criteria and documentation requirements can be overwhelming. Regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation add another layer of complexity.

Furthermore, upgrading equipment, improving land management and transitioning to more environmentally friendly methods all require capital that many smallholders simply do not have. Banks and financial institutions might be hesitant to extend credit due to perceived risks like limited financial history or lack of collateral.

Beyond financial limitations, a lack of technical knowledge also poses a crucial challenge. Sustainable oil palm harvesting requires a broad understanding and implementation of best practices in areas such as soil management, fertilisation, pest control, efficient resource use and proper harvesting techniques. Without access to training services, smallholders struggle to acquire this crucial knowledge, hindering their ability to adopt sustainable practices and keep up with evolving certification requirements.

Smallholders also face economic challenges due to their weak position in the supply chain. They often end up accepting lower prices for their fruit, making it difficult to generate the capital needed for sustainable practices.

Further compounding the issue is the volatile nature of palm oil prices. This creates a vicious cycle, where a limited income restricts their ability to invest in sustainability, which can ultimately hurt their long-term profits and yields.

Governments must play a progressive role by implementing targeted support programmes tailored to the specific needs of smallholders. Financial support, such as subsidies or low-interest loans, would help smallholders transition to sustainable practices. Additionally, comprehensive training programmes on best agricultural practices, certification requirements and responsible land management are essential.

Supporting land rights and cooperative structures for smallholders can further empower them.

Indonesia has been using export levies to support smallholders, which is a positive step. However, a more comprehensive approach might be necessary to ensure its range is wide enough.

Certification bodies such as the RSPO also have a crucial role to play in making sustainability more inclusive for smallholders. This could involve simplifying the application process, reducing costs associated with certification and creating group certification options that allow smallholders to pool resources and expertise.

The RSPO’s smallholder strategy is a commendable initiative, but its current scope needs significant growth to effectively serve a wider range of smallholders. Additionally, collaboration among different certification organisations to harmonise standards might help reduce the burden on smallholders and streamline the certification process.

Technology has the potential to be a game changer for smallholders in the oil palm industry, whether it be through mobile apps that give agricultural advice in local languages, digital platforms connecting smallholders directly to buyers or remote sensing technologies that share data that can help with better land management. Of course, not everyone has a high-end smartphone or reliable internet access.

This is where the democratisation of technology comes in. There are user-friendly tools being developed that require minimal technical expertise. Think of simple interfaces with SMS updates. Additionally, exploring alternative methods like community radio broadcasts or local extension worker training programmes can ensure everyone benefits from technological advancement.

Consumer education is another powerful tool to help push the change to sustainable oil palm cultivation. Educating consumers can empower them to make informed choices.

However, systemic change is also crucial. Non-governmental organisations, the media, universities and responsible companies all have a role to play when it comes to raising awareness and advocating for fair and sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. That also goes for supporting the inclusion of smallholders.

The path to sustainable oil palm in Southeast Asia is not an easy one, but there is an inclusive path that we must undertake. Some researchers predict that smallholders will double their production capacity over the next decade. As we strive for sustainability, we must ensure that we’re not leaving them behind.

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3270183/push-sustainable-palm-oil-isnt-going-far-enough

Sumber : South China Morning Post