Malaysia: Oil palm replanting prioritised to boost yield without expanding land use

Malaysia remains committed to improving oil palm productivity by focusing on replanting efforts rather than expanding cultivated land. However, the slow progress of these initiatives has raised concerns about the industry’s long-term sustainability. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said in 2024, only 114,000ha, or 2% of the total planted area, were replanted, representing a decline from the 132,000ha (2.3%) recorded in 2023. He emphasised that this figure remains well below the recommended annual replanting target of approximately 285,000ha, which equates to 4% to 5% of the total plantation area. Johari said replanting is a crucial issue that requires immediate attention, as it has a direct impact on the industry’s long-term sustainability. Safeguarding future yields demands an unwavering long-term commitment, one that must commence without delay to fortify the sector’s sustained growth and resilience. “This is especially important as ...