Novel Lyndon

Independent Oil Palm Smallholder Participation and Technology Transfer

Food supplies in the agricultural sector rely heavily on small farmers. Technology transfer in the agricultural sector is crucial to ensure the livelihoods of small farmers and thereby guarantee stable food supplies. To meet this need, the palm oil guidance and advisory centre, managed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), has assumed responsibility for the transfer of technology through formal and informal training. This study seeks to assess the participation of independent oil palm smallholders in the transfer of oil palm cultivation technology. This study consulted 275 independent oil palm smallholders in Teluk Intan, Perak, and Saratok, Sarawak, both in Malaysia. The survey form is used to obtain smallholder information, involvement in TUNAS programmes and technology transfer competencies. The findings show that the technology transfer capabilities by TUNAS officers are outstanding and the smallholders’ participation in the programme is encouraging.

Mendepani kekangan inovasi dan teknologi dalam kalangan pekebun kecil sawit di Sabah

Abstrak Pelbagai usaha melibatkan inovasi dan teknologi berkaitan teknik penanaman dan pengeluaran hasil telah diberi penekanan oleh organisasi yang terlibat dalam penanaman kelapa sawit. Usaha ini bertujuan untuk menjamin kesejahteraan pekebun kecil sawit antaranya melalui interaksi dan pendedahan terhadap kaedah penanaman serta aktiviti hiliran. Oleh itu, kajian dilakukan untuk mengenalpasti tindakbalas pekebun kecil sawit terhadap pelbagai inovasi dan teknologi yang diperkenalkan oleh agensi terbabit. Hal ini perlu diberi penekanan kerana maklumat daripada pihak agensi berkaitan menjelaskan bahawa produktiviti per hektar di kawasan kajian tidak mencapai sasaran pengeluaran yang ditetapkan oleh pihak agensi. Seramai 300 orang pekebun kecil sawit di daerah Lahad Datu, Semporna dan Tawau di Sabah telah ditemubual dengan menggunakan soal selidik. Hasil kajian dianalisis secara diskriptif bagi memahami kekangan pekebun kecil sawit terhadap penggunaan inovasi dan teknologi dalam penanaman kelapa sawit di kawasan kajian. Dapatan kajian mendapati majoriti pekebun kecil menjelaskan bahawa kekangan penggunaan inovasi dan teknologi berpunca daripada faktor pemilikan tanah, masalah akses kepada kredit, akses kepada pasaran output dan input serta kekangan terhadap sumber dan bukan sumber. Kekangan tersebut telah mewujudkan jurang interaksi antara organisasi dengan pekebun kecil sawit. Jurang berkenaan telah mendorong mereka untuk terus bergantung kepada orang tengah. Oleh itu, pihak agensi dan pekebun kecil sawit perlu bekerjasama untuk menambahbaik jurang dengan memberi penekanan terhadap program inovasi dan teknologi dalam institusi pekebun kecil. Kata kunci : inovasi, interaksi sosial, kekangan, pekebun kecil, penglibatan, teknologi Abstract Various efforts which involve innovation and technology have been emphasized by organizations involved in oil palm cultivation. These efforts are aimed towards ensuring the well-being of small-scale or smallholder oil palm farmers, especially in cultivation techniques and crop production. Therefore, this study aims to identify the extent to which the smallholders respond towards the various innovation and technology introduced by the relevant agencies. According to the data obtained from the agencies, the productivity targets per hectar in the study area have not been met. A total of 300 smallholders in the study area of Lahad Datu, Semporna and Tawau, Sabah were interviewed using questionnaires to understand the barriers to innovation and technology among them. The data were analyzed descriptively to understand the constraints on the use of innovation and technology in oil palm cultivation. The majority of the smallholders explained that the constraints are attributable to several factors such as land ownership, access to credit, access to output and input markets, resources and non-resources constraints. This ultimately creates an interaction gap between the organization and smallholder oil palm farmers thus encourages them to rely on middlemen. The agency and smallholders should work together to improve the gap through organizing innovation and technology related programs for the small-scale farmers. Keywords : innovation, social interaction, constraints, smallholder, engagement, technology https://doi.org/10.17576/geo-2018-1402-05