Optimum tree crop combination for Malaysia

Abstract

Over the last decade the country's commodity crops have grown both in planted hectarage and output , but crop diversification has been largely limited to the expansion of hectarage and output of oil palm. cocoa and coconut. Table 1 summarizes the estimated cultivated area as well as output by crops for Peninsular Malaysia between l966 to 1981. It is quite clear from this table. that oil palm has led the way in the diversification move . More than 0.9 million hectares - about one-fifth that of the total cultivated area in the country - have been planted with the crop. Cocoa/coconut hectarage; have grown but very much less than oil pam. Their pattern of growth has also been different. While cocoa hectarages have been increased, coconut cultivation on its own has been on the decline . A large number of coconut smallholdings are growing cocoa as an additional crop to supplement their incomes. lntercropping of coconut with cocoa is also a common practice in estates.