A quick question to oil palm planters on the topic of Ganoderma, a plague affecting mostly Malaysian planters at this stage. 

MPOB says that less than 5% of the Malaysia acreage is infected. When replanting, some planters often find that it is more than 10% of the total Malaysia acreage that is in fact affected. Which is which? 

This disease is costing the oil palm industry USD billions! 

Next, some say that a protocol of organic acid injections is already very effective. What is not available yet is an advance warning system of this fungus attack. 

One must wait for a stage 4 infection level to know something is amiss with a specific palm! 

Elephants however seem to be able to “smell ganoderma infection” in the Kinabatangan. A planter on the left bank of that river reports that in his estate, elephants push down ONLY ganoderma infected palms. Is it because they are easier to pushdown or because the mushy insides are a delicacy to them?

Have other Borneo based oil planters noticed the same phenomenon? 

The reason we ask is to decide if Palm INNOV should put a Ganoderma warning system on its list of must tackle issues affecting the oil palm industry.

What are your thoughts? Leave your comments down below.  Thank you for your input in this space.

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