KOTA KINABALU: The government is poised to implement the oil palm Electronic Fresh Fruit Bunches (EFFB) initiative after the success of the pilot project undertaken in Tanjung Piai, Johor.

       Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said the implementation of the project would prevent manipulation and non-compliance in the oil palm industry.

       However, he said it was critical not to rush the implementation of the EFFB project nationwide as it involved various stakeholders.

       “If we rush it, then the system could be disrupted and subsequently create an issue,” he told reporters during an event in Sungai Sibuga, Sandakan, yesterday.

       Wee said the pilot project had reached its maturity date, adding that its shortcomings and challenges would be looked into.

       “Besides that, we will make improvements to the project before we can implement it throughout the country,” he added.

       In March, Wee said the oil palm EFFB initiative, a pilot online system to tackle the issue of fruit theft and weighing, would be improved before being expanded nationwide.

       The EFFB pilot project was implemented in Tanjung Piai, Johor, on April 1 last year involving 6,045 smallholders and an oil palm area of 11,954ha.

       The system, developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, was aimed at monitoring and reporting fresh fruit bunch (FFB) transactions in a transparent manner.

       Private smallholders were encouraged to keep records of their orchard maintenance and yields.