J. Biosci. Agric. Res. | Volume 19, Issue 01, 1589-1596| https://doi.org/10.18801/jbar.190119.193
Article type: Research article, Received: 12.11.2018, Revised: 10.01.2019, Date of Publication: 14 February 2019.
Article type: Research article, Received: 12.11.2018, Revised: 10.01.2019, Date of Publication: 14 February 2019.
Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification
Chukwuka M. Abazue, Er Ah Choy and Novel Lydon
School of Social, Development and Environmental studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia.
School of Social, Development and Environmental studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia.
Abstract
Oil palm is the world leading vegetable oil. It is an important player in the economic development of the country, both as a contributor to gross national product (GDP), foreign earnings and job creation. With high yields per hectare, cheap to produce and its application to food and non-food industries makes it an important product both locally and internationally. The demand for palm oil has lead to expansion of oil palm plantation around the world over the past several decades, with Indonesia and Malaysia accounting for more than 85 percent of the global palm oil market. Smallholders are important players in the world oil palm industry as they contribute about 40 percent of the planted areas in the two most important oil palm countries. Current study investigated the knowledge level of certification amongst the independent smallholders in Malaysia. The study revealed that most of the independent smallholders do not have certification, with a reasonable number of them having little or no knowledge of certification bodies (RSPO/MSPO). The study revealed that though policies are in place to support smallholders to participate in certification for them to reap the enormous benefits; including wider market access, quality fresh bunches and technical skills, more should be done in terms of implementation in reaching out to the smallholders especially through sensitization programs, including, workshops and extension services to properly educate smallholders on the benefits of certification since they are important player in the global palm oil market.
Key Words: Independent, Oil palm, Smallholders, Challenges and Certification
Oil palm is the world leading vegetable oil. It is an important player in the economic development of the country, both as a contributor to gross national product (GDP), foreign earnings and job creation. With high yields per hectare, cheap to produce and its application to food and non-food industries makes it an important product both locally and internationally. The demand for palm oil has lead to expansion of oil palm plantation around the world over the past several decades, with Indonesia and Malaysia accounting for more than 85 percent of the global palm oil market. Smallholders are important players in the world oil palm industry as they contribute about 40 percent of the planted areas in the two most important oil palm countries. Current study investigated the knowledge level of certification amongst the independent smallholders in Malaysia. The study revealed that most of the independent smallholders do not have certification, with a reasonable number of them having little or no knowledge of certification bodies (RSPO/MSPO). The study revealed that though policies are in place to support smallholders to participate in certification for them to reap the enormous benefits; including wider market access, quality fresh bunches and technical skills, more should be done in terms of implementation in reaching out to the smallholders especially through sensitization programs, including, workshops and extension services to properly educate smallholders on the benefits of certification since they are important player in the global palm oil market.
Key Words: Independent, Oil palm, Smallholders, Challenges and Certification
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Article Citations
MLA
Abazue C. M. et al. “Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification.” Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research 19(01) (2019): 1589-1596.
APA
Abazue, C. M. Choy, E. A. and Lydon, N. (2019). Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research, 19(01), 1589-1596.
Chicago
Abazue, C. M. Choy, E. A. and Lydon, N. “Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification.” Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research 19(01) (2019): 1589-1596.
Harvard
Abazue, C. M. Choy, E. A. and Lydon, N. 2019. Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research, 19(01), pp. 1589-1596.
Vancouver
Abazue, CM, Choy, EA and Lydon, N. Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research. 2019 February 17(02): 1589-1596.
Abazue C. M. et al. “Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification.” Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research 19(01) (2019): 1589-1596.
APA
Abazue, C. M. Choy, E. A. and Lydon, N. (2019). Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research, 19(01), 1589-1596.
Chicago
Abazue, C. M. Choy, E. A. and Lydon, N. “Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification.” Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research 19(01) (2019): 1589-1596.
Harvard
Abazue, C. M. Choy, E. A. and Lydon, N. 2019. Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research, 19(01), pp. 1589-1596.
Vancouver
Abazue, CM, Choy, EA and Lydon, N. Oil palm smallholders and certification: exploring the knowledge level of independent oil palm smallholders to certification. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research. 2019 February 17(02): 1589-1596.
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