Petaling Jaya, 21 October 2022 –In a watershed for the palm oil industry, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) announced that it has successfully mechanised several tasks across its Malaysian plantation operations. As a result of a broadscale initiative launched just two years ago, SDP expects to eliminate the need for manual workers in all non-harvesting activities by the end of 2023.
“We expect to reduce the number of plantation workers by 55% by the end of 2023 and by the end of 2024, improve our land-to-man ratio to 1:17.5 or one worker for every 17.5 hectares (ha),” SDP Group Managing Director, Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said. The current industry average is one worker for every 8 ha. As dependence on manual labour decreases, SDP also expects to improve productivity.
Speaking at the annual Oils and Fats International Conference (OFIC) this week, organised by the Malaysian Oil Scientists’ and Technologists’ Association, Mohamad Helmy unveiled seven new initiatives, several of which are industry firsts that the company had developed internally or co-developed with start-ups and technology providers. Several of these initiatives have already been implemented across the Group’s Malaysian operations, while others are either in prototype or concept stage.
“After more than 100 years of working the same way, heavily dependent on manual and menial labour, our industry can finally move forward,” Mohamad Helmy said.
Through advanced mechanisation, automation and digitalisation of its operations, SDP is making work in plantations more sophisticated and less laborious, which will also go a long way towards attracting a more skilled Malaysian workforce to the industry. SDP aims to have a 100% local workforce for its Malaysian plantation operations by the end of 2027.
Mohamad Helmy showed footage of drones spraying seedlings in nurseries and unmanned ground vehicles undertaking tasks that have been described as “dirty, dangerous and difficult”. In SDP’s Malaysia operations, drones have replaced over 100 workers who, historically, had carried backpacks of chemicals to spray young seedlings in nurseries.
“During the pandemic, when foreign workers returned to their home countries, we were unable to replace them, which resulted in a sharp drop in productivity. We knew we had to take drastic action,” Mohamad Helmy said. To find new solutions for the age-old problem, a special project team within SDP was formed in October 2020, comprising leaders from different disciplines within the company. The initiative was dubbed ‘Project Infinity’. Today, the future envisioned by the Company two years ago is taking shape.
The palm oil industry is typically, highly labour-intensive. Prior to the pandemic, 80% to 85% of the plantation operations’ workforce were migrant workers, though at SDP, foreign workers accounted for about 75% of the plantation workforce.
Increasing productivity
Mohamad Helmy explained that there are two (2) critical areas in increasing productivity, namely, yield potential and realised yield.
“For many years, SDP has been focusing on improving yield potential and we are proud to have achieved this with our ground-breaking research into the oil palm genome to produce what is perhaps the world’s best oil palm seed, the GenomeSelect™.
“But yield potential means nothing if you cannot realise the actual potential of the seeds. This requires the seeds to be grown in the best way and crops to be recovered as efficiently as possible, to be sent to our mills, as fresh as possible.”
Whilst SDP is already using machines to carry out crop evacuation work in its operations, under its accelerated mechanisation programme, several initiatives have been introduced to improve the upkeep of immature and mature fields in various terrains. These include:
A key area that is still being studied is the harvesting of oil palm fruits, which requires skilled manual labour. Harvesting can be difficult if palm trees are too tall. SDP’s newly established robotics unit is working with several organisations to find viable solutions.
With more technology companies, institutions and organisations, both local and abroad, that are already or will be working in this space, Mohamad Helmy believes there will be more opportunities for Malaysians to become a part of this exciting transformation and contribute to the future of the Malaysian palm oil industry.
To view SDP’s latest mechanisation video shown during the Oils and Fats International Congress 2022, please click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89vZx7xFnig
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |
A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer’s hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.
We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.
A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.
You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.
Click to see the Personal Data Protection Act 2010.