LUBOK ANTU: The palm oil industry in Sarawak is enhancing its sustainability as it explores options to strengthen its value chain through various downstream activities with high potential.

This approach not only adds value to the industry, but also contributes to increasing income based on the crop.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said that in the past, the palm oil industry was more oriented towards selling oil.

However, now, thanks to technological advances, palm oil is also able to produce biofuel for aircraft use as well as a source of food for livestock.

According to him, the initiative is in line with Sarawak's development policy which is based on the circular economy, an approach that encourages the reuse of materials to reduce excessive waste disposal which can have a negative impact on the environment.

“Sarawak is currently placing great emphasis on the ‘waste to energy’ industry where waste will become renewable materials that can be purchased by the public in the form of other products.

“Earlier, I saw that we have two products (from oil palm fruit waste), the first of which is biofuel and livestock feed, including fertiliser,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Kernel Crushing Plant, here, on Saturday.

According to him, environmentally friendly products are now offered at premium global market prices, making such efforts one of Sarawak’s new sources of income.

He made it clear that Sarawak is placing great emphasis on the production of environmentally friendly products through circular economy practices that convert waste into downstream products.

Regarding other developments, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari in a press conference session after the event also suggested that farmers and ranchers in this region continue to explore new ideas in their efforts to add value to existing commodities.

If this can be implemented, he explained Sarawak’s dream of increasing household income and becoming an exporter of crop products and livestock by 2030 can be achieved.

“Most of our farmers have two acres of land and if it does not affect their crops, then the space between the oil palm trees can be used to raise animals.

“Because now we do not depend on grazing fields to feed livestock, but instead use other food sources such as napier grass mixed with waste from oil palm.

“So, it will increase income for our farmers because they will have two new income streams, one is oil palm and the second is livestock,” he explained.

Also present were the Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development of Sarawak, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development of Sarawak, Datuk Martin Ben; Deputy Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment of Sarawak, Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh; Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development of Sarawak, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis; Member of Parliament for Lubok Antu, Roy Angau Gingkoi; Member of Parliament for Batang Lupar, Mohamad Shafizan Kepli as well as other distinguished guests. -UKASnews