PLANTATION SECTOR ENCOURAGED TO USE BIOMASS-BASED FERTILISERS

KUALA LUMPUR, August 2 (Bernama) -- The plantation sector is encouraged to use
biomass-based fertiliser an option to reduce production cost, Deputy Plantation
Industries and Commodities Minister Hamzah Zainudin said Monday.

Fertilisers accounted for more than 50 per cent of the total cost, he said at
the opening of the Second International Conference on Oil Palm Biomass here.

"In this context, the efforts include enhancing R&D (research and
development )on biocomposting to produce biofertilisers to ensure that oil palm
trees are provided optimal nutrient," Hamzah said.

"As such, full utilisation of biomass will not only provide more income but will
also contribute towards zero carbon emission and zero waste," he said.

According to Hamzah, about 10 per cent of the oil palm tree is palm oil while
about 90 per cent in the form of oil palm biomass has yet to be fully exploited.

"These include among others empty fruit bunches, palm fibres, palm trunks, palm
fronds and palm oil mill effluents," he said.

In 2009, the oil palm industry generated an estimated 80 million tonnes of biomass.

Hamzah said with the depleting timber resources for the wood-based and furniture
industry, the utilisation of oil palm biomass in such sectors also offered
potential.

The oil palm biomass could be used to manufacture plywood, particleboard,
lumber, veneer and medium density fibre board, he said.
-- BERNAMA



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