Improving Smallholder Livelihoods through Yield Intensification : Identifying Key Good Agricultural Practices in Malaysian Oil Palm Cultivation

Sammanfattning

Independent oil palm smallholders are vital to Malaysia's economy, yet financial and structural constraints keep their average income below the national median, threatening the long-term viability of smallholder livelihoods. This study identifies and prioritizes the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) most strongly associated with fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield intensification. Using multiple linear regression on data from 84 program-enrolled farms in Johor, Malaysia, FFB yield is modeled as a function of improvements in GAP and farm conditions. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders in Malaysian palm oil production provide complementary insights into adoption constraints and practical feasibility. Fertilizer application and harvesting intervals are identified as the GAP most strongly associated with yield, while stands per hectare, manager gender, and pre-GAP yield are identified as significant control variables. The study concludes that realizing the full livelihood improvement potential of these yield gains requires addressing the capital, labor, and market access barriers that currently hinder optimal GAP implementation and constrain the translation of higher productivity into increased income.