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MPOB initiated the genetic engineering program in late 1980s to diversify the use and increase the economic value of palm oil. The aim of the program was to produce higher oleic acid content of the palm oil in the mesocarp. Subsequently, the genetic engineering program was expanded to include high contents of stearic, palmitoleic, ricinoleic, … Read more

MPOB introduced the oil palm motorised cutter (Cantas) to the industry in 2007. Cantas is suitable for harvesting fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from palms up to 7 m harvesting height. Cantas increases harvesting productivity which improves harvesters’ earning besides reducing workers on the payroll, currently dominated by foreign workers (Razak et al., 2013). Main Researcher: … Read more

Loose fruits are currently collected by hand picking or raking. This technique is not only labour demanding, and time-consuming but is also tedious and laborious. The worker needs to squat and stand up throughout the day during the collection process. On the average, the time taken for the worker to collect loose fruits is about … Read more

Salak (Salacca zalacca) is a palm native to Indonesia and Malaysia. The fruits are known as snake fruit due to the reddish-brown scaly skin, growing in clusters at the base of the palm. The palm is cultivated in the wet regions of Malaysia and commonly planted under trees as it is tolerant to limited light … Read more

The oil palm is an important perennial oil crop for a number of countries in the tropics. A recent finding reported the presence of Coconut cadang-cadang viroid (CCCVd) variant in oil palm. The viroid as reported by Vadamalai (2005) implicated the movement of oil palm planting materials in Malaysia although there was no evidence of … Read more