Malaysian smallholders gain sustainable palm oil certification

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad announced that more than 181,000 independent smallholders in Malaysia have received Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification.

This progress involves 162 Sustainable Palm Oil Clusters (SPOC) covering a combined area of 706,647.06 hectares as of September 2026. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) manages these certifications to ensure that small-scale farmers incorporate sustainability principles into their daily farm management.

The ministry aims to move beyond simple certification by ensuring farmers actively protect biodiversity and high conservation value areas. These efforts help maintain consumer confidence in the Malaysian palm oil industry by proving that economic growth can coexist with environmental protection. To support these goals, the MPOB conducts mobile counter programs and customer engagement sessions to provide advisory services. In Melaka, the agency held 22 such programs to assist 744 smallholders.

These initiatives align with the PALMS 2030 strategy, which encourages farmers to increase yields through mechanization and better agricultural practices rather than expanding their planted land.