Improvement programmes had been focussing on the selection for bunch yields and oil yield components. Improvements in oil extraction through breeding and selection have been largely due to the increments in mesocarp to fruit (M/F). In addition, selection for large fruits could be advantageous, as the best type would give the largest absolute quantity of […]

Oil yield is derived from a composite of characters and is dependent on a number of components, the most important being fresh fruit bunch (FFB) and fruit composition, such as mesocarp to fruit (M/F), shell to fruit (S/F) and oil to bunch (O/B). One of the determinant factors leading to the colourful success story in […]

At present, fresh fruit bunch (FFB) grading is done visually by quality control conductors at estates and by graders at purchasing centres and mills. The most critical process in FFB grading is to categorize the bunches into ripe, under ripe and unripe. The MPOB manual on FFB grading defines a ripe bunch when the mesocarp […]

Malaysia is a net exporter of chicken meat and eggs. The production of broilers and layers in the country is highly intensive with very strong commercial entity. The feed for the bird is imported. In 2001, the import value of animal feed was RM 1.6 billion. The poultry feed is made up of quality corn, […]

Mechanical harvesting of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) remains an issue that needs to be solved. The current methods involve the use of a chisel or sickle, where the use of such tools require manual labour and this activity is a tedious job. This paper describes a newly innovated mechanical cutter which complements the […]