SFA 148 SUSTAINABLE

FARMING

CHAPTER 2:
SUSTAINABLE FIELD
LECTURER : MS H. CAROL AHKUI
OFFICE TEL: 089-779 623
CROP
EMAIL: hildaahkui@ism.edu.my
Learning Objectives
1. Know what are the main field crop commodities planted in Malaysia and how it
contributed to the economy and the people.

2. Evaluate the possible issues regarding our field crops.

3. Understand the importance and efforts to promote sustainable palm oil farming
through the implementation of Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and
Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO).

4. Understand the importance and efforts to promote sustainable rice farming through
the implementation of System of Rice Intensification (SRI).
 1.0 Field Crops in Malaysia
• Field crop =
• Usually a crop (other than fruits or vegetables) that is grown for
agricultural purposes or a cultivated plant that is grown commercially on a
large scale.
• Agriculture in Malaysia makes up 12% of the nation's GDP.
• 16% of the population in Malaysia are employed in the agriculture
industry.
• During the colonial era (British era) new crops were introduced and
open up a new opportunities for big plantations. For example;
• Rubber ,Palm oil, and Cocoa
• Other crops are grown for domestic purpose such as bananas,
coconuts, durian, pineapples, rice and rambutan.
 1.0 Field Crops in Malaysia
However, we are going to
focus more on Rice and Oil Oil Palm
Palm

Rice Main Field Crops Pineapple

in Malaysia

Cocoa Rubber
 1.1 Malaysian Field Crop: Oil Palm
• The oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) originates from West Africa
where it grows in the wild and later was developed into an
agricultural crop.
• It was introduced to Malaya, by the British in early 1870’s as an
ornamental plant.
• In 1917, the first commercial planting took place in Tennamaran
Estate in Selangor.
• The cultivation of oil palm increased at a fast pace in early
1960s under the government’s agricultural diversification program,
which was introduced to reduce the country’s economic
dependence on rubber and tin.
• Later in the 1960s, the government introduced land settlement
schemes for planting oil palm as a means to eradicate poverty
for the landless farmers and smallholders.
 1.1 Malaysian Field Crop: Oil Palm
• The oil palm plantations in Malaysia are largely based on the estate
management system and smallholder system.
• *Today, 4.49 million hectares of land in Malaysia is under oil
palm cultivation; producing 17.73 million tonnes of palm oil and
2.13 tonnes of palm kernel oil.
• Malaysia is one the largest producers and exporters of palm oil
in the world, accounting for 11% of the world’s oils & fats
production and 27% of export trade of oils & fats.
• The industry provides employment to more than half a million
people and livelihood to an estimated one million people.

*As updated in 2017

 1.2 Malaysian Field Crop: Rice
• Rice (Oryza sativa) is a crucial part of everyday Malaysian diet.
• In 1998, Malaysia produced 1.94 million metric tons of rice.
• Even with this high production, Malaysia still only produces 80% of what it
needs to support itself and must import the rest.
• The average Malaysian citizen consumes 82.3 kilograms of rice per year.
• The increasing population is calling for more research and technological
advancement to increase rice production for consumption within the nation.
• Food security = the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of
affordable, nutritious food.
• Discuss what will happen to our country if we do not have a stable food
security?
 Year Population(x1000) Consumption (tons) Planted (ha)

2008 27958.95 2305391.38 674548

1.2 Malaysian Field Crop: 2009 28614.30 2358864.89 674548

Rice 2010
2011
29281.54
29961.00
2413398.24
2469006.04
674548
674548
2012 30653.04 2527705.82 674548
2013 31358.01 2583517.73 674548
2014 32076.27 2642464.27 674548
• The chart shows the predicted
2015 32808.21 2702570.04 674548
relationship between 2016 33554.21 2763861.61 674548
consumption of rice, the We are 2017 34314.67 2826367.32 674548
amount planted, and the here! 2018 35090.01 2890117.22 674548

increase in population from 2019 35880.64 2955142.90 674548

2020 36687.01 3021477.51 674548
2008 up until 2030.
2021 37509.55 3089155.60 674548
Source: Pertanika .1. Trop. Agrie. Sei. Vol. 32 2022 38348.73 3158213.17 674548
(2) 2009.
2023 39205.02 3228687.59 674548
2024 40078.90 3300617.58 674548
2025 40970.88 3374043.22 674548
2026 41881.47 3449005.93 674548
However, is that the REALITY? 2027 42811.20 3525548.50 674548
2028 43760.61 3603715.06 674548
2029 44730.26 3683551.13 674548
2030 45720.72 3765103.62 674548
Updated in 2011.
Source: Dr Christopher The Bon Sung (http://www.christopherteh.com/blog/2010/07/will-malaysia-achieve-100-self-sufficiency-in-rice-by-2015/)
Updated in 2011.
Source: Dr Christopher The Bon Sung (http://www.christopherteh.com/blog/2010/07/will-malaysia-achieve-100-self-sufficiency-in-rice-by-2015/)
 1.3 Malaysian Field Crop: Rubber
• *Malaysia is the 5th largest world rubber producer after
Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and China.
• Malaysia has earned a good reputation around the world
for its high quality and well priced rubber products.
• Rubber manufacturers in Malaysia supply several
different rubber products such as medical gloves,
components for automobiles, belts, and hoses to
several different countries such as United States,
Japan, China, and many countries in Europe.
• However, production has decreased because many
states are switching to a more profitable product, palm
oil.
• The output for natural rubber in Malaysia decreases as
much as 6.6% from 0.72 million tan in 2015 to 0.67
million tan in 2016. Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) produces thick white latex
which can be used to produce many rubber-based products.
*As updated in 2016
 PRODUCTION, USAGE AND EXPORTATION OF MALAYSIAN NATURAL RUBBER &
SYNTHETIC RUBBER (2010-2016) , (thousand tonnes)

PRODUCTION USAGE IMPORT EXPORT

Updated in 2016
Source: International Rubber Study Group (IRSG)
Updated in 2011
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (Jabatan Statistik Negara)
 1.4 Malaysian Field Crop: Cocoa
• Cocoa was introduced into Malaysia between the 17th and 18th
centuries.
• The first record of a cocoa plantation dates from 1778 in Malacca.
• However, cocoa was not really commercialised before 1853.
• Cocoa cultivation developed strongly between 1970 and 1980
thanks to the availability of appropriated land, very productive
plants and very high cocoa prices.
• The quantities of cocoa produced today have fallen considerably
but cocoa is still the 3rd most important agricultural export after
palm oil and rubber.
• The total size of cocoa plantations in Malaysia is about 17,367
hectares throughout the country.
• Small holders: 16,489 ha (95%)
• Estates: 879 ha (5%)
 1.4 Malaysian Field Crop: Cocoa
• *The largest plantation is Sabah, which has a total area of 6,881
hectares .
• *The second largest plantation is Sarawak at 6,772 hectares.
• *Malaysia is the largest cocoa grinder in Asia and the fifth largest
globally, behind Netherlands, Cote d'Ivoire, Germany and the United
States.
• Products from cocoa includes cocoa beans, cocoa paste, cocoa butter,
cocoa powder and chocolate.
• In 2016, total Malaysian cocoa production is about 1,757 tonnes.
• Sabah: 887 tonnes
• Sarawak: 273 tonnes
• Peninsular Malaysia: 597 tonnes

*As updated in 2016 , source from Malaysian Cocoa Board

Source: The Cocoa Industry of Malaysia, Progress and
Development 2015 Report (Malaysian Cocoa Board)

Do you think Malaysia will be

achieve this goal?
If yes, why?
If no, why?
Published on 8 October 2016
Discuss! Source: The Straits Times Singapore
 1.5 Malaysian Field Crop: Pineapple
• Pineapple (Ananas cosmosus) is a type of tropical plant
which is believed to have originated from the Eastern
Part of South America.

• Introduced in Malaya in the 16th century by the Portuguese.

• In 1921, pineapple began to be planted in Singapore, Johor

and Selangor as cash crop.

• Pineapple plantation continued to expand in peat soil area

especially in Johor.

• Pineapple can be obtained all year long as it is not a

seasonal type of crop.
 1.5 Malaysian Field Crop: Pineapple
Biggest Pineapple Main Fresh Pineapple Main Canned Main Pineapple Juice
Cultivator Exporter Pineapple Exporter Exporter

Thailand Costa Rica Thailand Thailand

Brazil Ivory Coast Philippines Philippines
Countries Philippines Philippines Indonesia
Malaysia Malaysia Malaysia
(Ranked 9th globally) (Ranked 10th globally) (Ranked 24th globally)

*As updated in 2006, source from FAO

 1.5 Malaysian Field Crop: Pineapple
• In Malaysia, there are 3 types of pineapple which are mostly planted:
• Mauritius, Sarawak and Gandol.

• In addition to that also, there are 3 other types which are produced through
hybrid method:
• Maspine hybrid, N36, and Josapine pineapple.

Purpose Eaten fresh Canned Juice

Sarawak Gandol Gandol
Pineapple type
Mauritius N36 N36
Josapine Maspine Maspine

• New hybrid, MD2 was introduced to the local farmers to boost the pineapple
industry.
www.freshplaza.com
2.0 Issues with Field crops
Most of the time, farmers do not practice
Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) /
Sustainable Farming

Monocropping will Issues with Reduces the

lead to pest & diseases
problem
Field Crops biodiversity

Excessive use of fertilizers,

hormones & pesticides
3.0 Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a non-profit organization that unites stakeholders from the
7 sectors of the palm oil industry to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil.
• The stakeholders includes the:
 oil palm producers,
 processors or traders,
 consumer goods manufacturers,
 retailers,
 banks/investors,
 environmental organizations and
 social non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

• The RSPO has developed a set of environmental and social criteria which companies must comply with in
order to produce Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
 3.0 Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
• Certified Sustainable Palm Oil= Palm oil that was certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable
Palm Oil (RSPO) according to specific criteria to reduce the negative impacts of palm oil
cultivation on the environment and communities.
• These criteria include:
 No primary forests or areas which contain significant concentrations of biodiversity (e.g. endangered
species) can be cleared.
 Reduced use of pesticides and fires;
 Fair treatment of workers according to local and international labour rights standards,
 Inform and consult with local communities before the development of new plantations on their land.
 Only RSPO-certified producers can (certified by an independent auditor approved by the RSPO) claim
that they produce, use and/or sell sustainable palm oil.

• Palm oil is used in many of the products on supermarket shelves, from margarine and chocolate
to ice cream, soaps, cosmetics, and fuel for cars and power plants. 
• India, China, Indonesia and Europe are the main consumers of palm oil. 
 3.0 Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
What are the negative impacts of palm oil farming on the environment and people?

• In some regions, oil palm cultivation has caused – and continues to cause –
deforestation.
Deforestation • This means that land, which was once covered by primary forest (forest that has never
been touched by man) or which housed protected species and biodiversity, was cleared in
order to be converted into palm oil plantations.

• Some palm oil plantations were developed without consulting local communities over
Land violation the use of their land.
• Some have even been responsible for forcibly displacing people from their land

Unfair • Violations of workers’ rights to fair payment and safe working conditions and other
malpractices have also occurred.
treatment to the • For example; Workers has no access to health treatment, long working hours, unfair salary,
workers forced or child labor, etc.
 Fulfills
increasing
global
demands

Protects the Supports

environment affordable
and wildlife Why do we food prices
need
Sustainable
Palm Oil

Protects the
Reduce community
poverty and its
workers
 4.0 Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
• Sustainability is no longer an option, it’s a necessity.
• The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities
(MPIC) has recently announced that Malaysia's certification
scheme for sustainable palm oil will now be made
mandatory.
• The scheme, known as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
(MSPO) was first launched in 2015.
• It is based on the MSPO standards (MS2530:2013 series).
• The standard provides general principles for the production of
sustainable palm oil that covers the 3Ps (People, Planet,
Profit).

Source: The Star Online, 2017

• The MSPO standards cover seven areas:
1. Management commitment and responsibility
2. Transparency
3. Compliance to legal requirements
4. Social responsibility, safety and employment
conditions
5. Environment, natural resources, biodiversity
and ecosystem services
6. Best practices
7. Development of new plantings
 4.0 Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
• Before this announcement, MSPO was implemented on a voluntary basis and
administered through the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council
(MPOCC), which is an organisation under MPIC entrusted to promote the
development, adoption and implementation of MSPO.
• Under the Ministry's proposed timeline for obtaining MSPO certification:
 Plantation companies that are already RSPO certified must obtain MSPO
certification by 31 December 2018,
 Plantation companies without RSPO certification will be given more time to obtain the
MSPO certification, which is by 30 June 2019.
 Acknowledging the technical and financial constraints faced by independent and
organised smallholders to obtain certification, this group will be given the longest
grace period, which is up to 31 December 2019.

• Financial assistance will be given to smallholders to assist them in achieving MSPO

certification.
4.0 Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
• As of January 2017, Malaysia’s total planted area was 5.74 million hectares of which 1.15 million
hectares were RSPO or MSPO certified.
• Malaysia’s goal of having 100 % of its plantations certified by 2019 will further demonstrate the
country’s good agricultural practices and sustainability initiatives.
 4.0 Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
What are the benefits/impacts of MSPO certification to
Malaysian palm oil:

1. Malaysian palm oil producers must protect natural

resources:
 Malaysia has committed to retaining at least 50 percent of its
total land cover under natural forest cover.
 It restricts burning, encourages recycling of organic waste,
and has strict water and soil conservation policies in place.
 Help to protect endangered and threatened species, and help
animals live in harmony with oil palm plantations.
 4.0 Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
2. Palm oil production must consider the community needs
 Country-wide initiatives have been enacted to protect palm oil workers’ rights and help family farmers
increase their quality of life.
 Safe working conditions are a must, forced or child labor is banned, and fair wages are paid.
 In fact, palm oil plantations are credited for lifting many Malaysians out of poverty.

3. Malaysian palm oil production should support international sustainability goals

 The MSPO program requires efficient energy use, such as the use of renewable energy sources, aimed
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 It also supports increasing palm oil yields which can help feed the growing planet without stressing our
planet’s resources.
 Finally, MSPO standards support United Nations sustainable development goals which aim to end
poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.
 4.0 Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil
• Malaysia is a leading producer of sustainable and non-GMO palm oil.
• Malaysia has 5.6 million hectares (13.9 million acres) planted with oil palm, spread in
both Peninsular (west Malaysia) and the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.
• This oil palm cultivated area is actually less than 20 percent of percent of Malaysia’s
total land. 
• These efforts by the Malaysian government to enhance and strengthen MSPO are timely
if one considers the increasing negative sentiments expressed by some people over
RSPO. 
• Another palm oil certification body, RSPO, has been under criticisms where some
activists groups are, “saying it is biased toward producers and its complaints panel
is flawed”
Source: Reuters, Nov 7, 2016
References
• Palm Oil Health, 16 March 2017, ‘Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification to be
mandatory by 2019’ , Retrieved on 8 October 2017, http
://www.palmoilhealth.org/faq/malaysian-sustainable-palm-oil-certification-mandatory-2019/
• Christopher T.B.S, 22 June 2011, ‘Will Malaysia achieve 100% self-sufficiency in rice by
2015?’ , Retrieved on 8 October 2017, http
://www.christopherteh.com/blog/2010/07/will-malaysia-achieve-100-self-sufficiency-in-rice-
by-2015
/
• Majlis Promosi Eksport Getah Malaysia, 2017, ‘Pengeluaran, Penggunaan dan Dagangan
Getah Dunia’, Retrieved on 8 October 2017, http://
www.mrepc.com/bm/industry/industry.php
• Business Wire.com, 3 May 2017, ‘Malaysia Cocoa Industry Report 2017 - Research and
Markets’, Retrieved on 8 October 2017, http
://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170503005811/en/Malaysia-Cocoa-Industry-Report-
2017---
Research
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