58,000 S’wak oil palm smallholders risk losing EU market access, says Nanta

Kapit MP Alexander Nanta Linggi expressed concern that 58,000 oil palm smallholders in Sarawak might lose access to the European Union market due to the lack of formal land documentation. The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is set to come into effect next year, and smallholders who cannot provide required land documentation, mapping, and geolocation data risk being excluded from international markets.

Works Minister Linggi emphasized that these hardworking individuals are striving to productively utilize their land to earn a living and support their families. He urged the state government to prioritize securing an exemption for native customary rights (NCR) land under the EUDR, alongside expediting land surveys and documentation processes.