It remains committed to providing up to 2,500 job opportunities as a harvest operator nationwide

by HARIZAH KAMEL / pic by TMR FILE

FELCRA Bhd remains determined to further improve efforts in all Felcra-managed farms in the country despite having recorded better profits for Interims 1 and 2 in 2021.

Group CEO Datuk Mat Roni Zakaria said rising commodity prices in the world market due to lack of crude palm oil supply and the impact of Covid-19 also created opportunities for the local youth who want to “migrate” to the plantation sector.

“Felcra remains committed to providing up to 2,500 job opportunities as a harvest operator nationwide to meet the needs of harvesting and tree management by offering lucrative returns as well as various incentives for those interested.

“To facilitate the work and ease the burden on Felcra plantation workers, several mechanisation methods have been introduced in the farm management process.

“The current high commodity prices will not be so forever, and to address the potential decline in profits per metric tonne in the future, we need to further increase palm oil extraction rates and production of high-quality palm by-products in line with market demand,” he said in a recent statement.

In addition, Mat Roni hoped that the Interim Distribution 2 and monthly distribution for the period May to August 2021 can provide economic relief to eligible participants and that Felcra’s transformation efforts will help drive socio-economic improvement in rural areas.

Felcra just announced an Interim 2 profit of RM251.51 million for its consolidation and rehabilitation projects for the financial period from May 1 to Aug 31, 2021.

Its profit jumped 155% or RM152.94 million higher compared to the same interim in 2020, which recorded RM98.57 million.

Of the total profits, a total of 68,930 participants from 719 projects that recorded profits will receive an Interim Distribution 2 amounting to RM131.54 million in stages starting Nov 6, 2021.

Covering the May to August period, monthly distributions amounting to RM17.08 million were paid, bringing the total amount of Interim Distribution 2 payments recorded to RM148.62 million.

Felcra chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (picture) said Felcra managed to generate more positive profit this year as a result of the persistence and high commodity prices.

“We are grateful for the strong support of Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, who is always alert and concerned about the fate of the participants.

“At the same time, the minister is always ready to help motivate employees in Felcra’s transformation and rehabilitation efforts to achieve the goals of our social mandate to the participants, and the group’s commercial responsibility to the stakeholders to achieve sustainability,” he said.

He also mentioned for days to come, when the market price of palm oil is no longer as high as it is now, he is confident that every Felcra employee will continue to work hard to improve productivity in every aspect.