Youth urged to take up palm oil agriculture

KUCHING: As Malaysia’s palm oil industry looks to press its global advantage, Pertubuhan Transformasi Dayak (TRADA) yesterday called on Sarawak youth to help play a key part in maintaining the country’s lead in sustainable palm oil.

Joseph Janting, president of TRADA, said palm oil was a lifeline for many in Malaysia, especially in the state and TRADA’s smallholders, who formed a substantial portion of the industry, were not only supporting their families but also paving the way for TRADA’s youth to step into a sector that promised sustainability and growth.

“Palm oil is at the forefront of Malaysia’s journey towards sustainable agriculture. Our commitment to sustainable practices places us in a unique position to lead globally, benefitting not just the current but future generations.

“This sustainable approach is crucial for Malaysian youth, offering them a landscape to grow and thrive,” he said in a press statement issued by TRADA  yesterday (Dec 28).

Joseph also highlighted the declining rate of deforestation in Malaysia, which had been trending lower for some time, with Global Forest Watch recently reporting a sharp reduction in forest loss.

Highlighting the sector’s impact on the local economy, TRADA believed that Sarawak’s youth could help unlock the potential of agriculture to move the domestic economy’s performance needle.

In addition, TRADA views young people as powerful allies in ensuring the continued success and positive narrative of the palm oil industry both locally and globally.

By involving youth in palm oil agriculture, Sarawak can capture more value in production, distribution, and logistics and this will also increase employment in the sector, which is crucial for Malaysia to quickly extend its lead in the industry.

The statement added that on track to lead global sustainability goals, TRADA stressed the importance of placing a strong emphasis on the empowerment of Malaysian youth in the sector.

“We are calling on the youth in Malaysia to become active participants in shaping the narrative around palm oil as it will pay dividends, long term from an employment perspective.

“Their energy and voices are powerful in dispelling myths and advocating for the truth about our industry’s commitment to sustainability and its economic importance,” Joseph added.

Globally, palm oil supplies between 35 per cent and 40 per cent of the world’s vegetable oil demand on just under 6 per cent of the land used to produce all vegetable oils.

As Malaysia is primed to capitalise on sustainability opportunities arising from the palm oil industry’s green transition, TRADA envisions a future where, through the involvement of youth and smallholders, the Malaysian palm oil industry becomes synonymous with sustainability and prosperity.

“In 2022, Malaysia’s palm oil export revenue reached RM135 billion, accounting for 2.4 per cent of GDP, with exports projected to increase to 16.30 million tonnes in 2023, while smallholders, who make up 30-40 per cent of cultivation and number nearly 250,000, predominantly in Johor, Sarawak, and Sabah, are crucial to the industry’s success,” the statement read.

The statement added that these smallholders provided livelihoods for many families and opportunities for youth, contributing significantly to palm oil production. In general, the agriculture sector, including palm oil, employed 1.86 million people in 2022.