SARAWAK PLANTATION BERHAD
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Annual Report 2014
Review of Operations
Progress of new developments
Bakau and Bukut Estates
The total areas planted during the year amounting to
1,074 ha. As at year end, 4,300 ha were cleared, out
of which, 3,088 ha were planted for both estates.
Melugu and Tulai Estates
505 ha at Tulai Estate were planted during the year.
As at year end, total planted area was 1,460 ha.
For Melugu Estate, no significant progress during
2014 as the plantable areas of 653 ha were fully
planted since previous year. 40% of the areas are
ready for harvesting in 2015 and the remaining
areas will be matured in 2016.
Progress of Replanting
During the year 2014, a total of 1,634 ha were
earmarked for replanting, at Subis 3 and Kosa
Estates. As at year end, these areas were
fully cleared and 442 ha has been planted with
oil palm. The remaining areas will be fully planted
in 2015.
The replanting areas are designed to adopt infield
mechanisation for harvesting, manuring and
upkeep in order to minimise manpower dependency
and to increase productivity.
Estate Mechanisation
(continued)
During the current year under review, a Strategic
Innovation Centre under Research and Development
(R&D) unit was established to specifically focus
on estate mechanisation. Its main objective is to
provide a platform whereby productivity improvement
can be achieved strategically through R&D,
creativity and innovation, which will then chart
the way for commercialisation and potential new
business opportunity.
The key strategies and frameworks have been
dertermined for the focus area which is farm
mechanisation.
It is envisaged that analysis of data collected
from mechanisation trials will assist the estates
not only in increasing labour productivity but
also in providing baselines for more efficient
management of resources.
A milestone has been achieved in 2014 whereby
for the first time in the history of SPB, a prototype
machine for FFB evacuation has been designed,
fabricated, and built by the Strategic Innovation
Centre. The prototype was launched in December
2014 and is currently on trial at Sungai Tangit
Estate.