InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR – Palm oil plantations in two Malaysian states are facing a pest infestation that could threaten production, amid recovery efforts following recent floods that disrupted the sector.

Malaysian Minister of Plantations and Commodities, Johari Abdul Ghani, revealed in a parliamentary statement on Wednesday that leaf-eating pests, particularly bagworms, have been reported in several areas of Peninsular Malaysia, especially in Johor and Perak.

"New infections have been reported in several regions in Perak, indicating an increasing threat to palm oil plantations in this state," Johari stated in an official statement quoted by InfoSAWIT from Business Recorder.

Of the total 5.61 million hectares of palm oil plantations in Malaysia, approximately 1.01 million hectares are located in Johor and Perak, making the pest infestation in these areas potentially significant for national production.

Previously, floods that hit Malaysia in recent months had caused palm oil production to plummet to its lowest level in six months.

To combat this pest outbreak, Johari mentioned that the Malaysian government has proposed an additional fund of RM5 million (IDR 18 billion) to strengthen control efforts on the ground. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has taken control measures by spraying biopesticides and planting beneficial crops that can help naturally reduce pest populations.

This expanding pest infestation poses a new challenge for the Malaysian palm oil industry, which has already faced difficulties due to extreme weather and global supply chain disruptions. (T2)