An Overview of the Benefits and Advantages of Implementing Mechanisation in the Oil Palm Plantation: A Look at Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) Evacuation

Abstract

The oil palm industry is labour-intensive to efficiently sustain the productivity of plantations. This article aims to review the benefits and advantages of mechanisation and introduce the types of machinery available to achieve it. The implementation of mechanisation in the oil palm plantation can help ease the dependence on human labour while avoiding diminishing field output. Fresh fruit bunch (FFB) evacuation involves the transportation of FFBs after harvesting from the field to the mill. The conventional methods for evacuation activities involve the use of wheelbarrows and lorries or tractors. The harvested FFBs will be evacuated using a wheelbarrow from the infield and placed on a platform before being hauled out of the plantation by tractor or lorry to the mill or collection point. New tractors attached with FFB grabbers and the systematic planting of oil palm in rows can help to reduce the amount of labour required and improve the quality of life for plantation workers. The Malaysian palm oil board (MPOB) has developed transport vehicles such as the Hydra-Porter, Grabber, and Beluga that are available to the industry. Optimising FFB evacuation in the oil palm plantation could improve FFB yields. Plantations that implemented the scissor lift trailer and FFB grabber combination could on average collect 27.5 tonnes of FFB a day.