An Empirical Study on Infield Collection system in Oil Palm Estate: A Case Study

Abstract

Shortage of workforce either local or foreign in oil palm plantation especially harvesting is a well-known fact. This investigation compares three different infield FFB collection method namely: [1] manual (wheelbarrow) with harvesting pole, [2] Mini Tractor With Grabber (MTG) with harvesting pole and [3] mini tractor without grabber (MTWG) with SmartCUT (motorized cutter). A field study of this integrated FFB harvesting and evacuation was governed at Sabah oil palm estate. The total area for this case study was 3000 ha with oil palm age about 10 to 14 years. Through this study, the harvester’s productivity (t/manday) means for MTG, MTWG and manual are 1.35, 0.93 and 0.54 mt respectively. The MTG has a higher output per machine and is highly significant compared to MTWG with SmartCUT. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) are RM4.33 for MTG, RM3.24 for MTWG with SmartCUT and RM2.73 for using manual. Nevertheless MTG has the highest BCR, it has to be tested with other cost benefit analysis. From this findings of study, I would recommend MTG as one of the mechanization for infield collection.