12/10/2026
🌱 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐈𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐌 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑 (𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐒 2026) 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐏 #6 🌱
A presentation by Dr. Winner Henry, Senior Agronomist from Sawit Kinabalu - Laman Rasmi, on “𝐒𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝: 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝐢𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” highlighted the potential of biological control agents (BCA) as part of an integrated approach to managing Basal Stem Rot (BSR) disease in oil palm. The presentation focused on the use of Trichoderma to help protect oil palm roots against Ganoderma infection and support sustainable plantation management.
🔬 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
📌 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
Basal Stem Rot (BSR), caused by Ganoderma boninense, remains a major challenge in oil palm plantations, affecting palms at different growth stages and reducing yield potential. Early prevention and integrated disease management are important to protect young palms and reduce losses throughout the plantation cycle.
📌 𝐒𝐚𝐰𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡
Dr. Winner highlighted Sawit Shield as a bio-inoculant containing beneficial endophytic fungi, Trichoderma. These fungi can live inside root tissues and help protect roots against Ganoderma infection. Sawit Shield has potential as a preventive measure, particularly during nursery planting, replanting and the immature stages of oil palm.
📌 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Nursery trials presented by Dr. Winner showed that Ganoderma infected seedlings treated with Sawit Shield had fewer unhealthy or stunted seedlings than infected seedlings without treatment. After 12 months, the reported healthy seedling rates were 70% and 76.67% for the two Sawit Shield treatments, compared with 0% in the infected, untreated group.
📌 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Field studies at Pegagau Estate and Pitas Estate compared palms treated with Sawit Shield against untreated control palms. The presentation reported lower Ganoderma incidence in treated plots and better yield performance at Pegagau Estate. These findings highlight the potential of biological control as part of a preventive disease management strategy.
📌 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬
Sawit Shield utilises oil palm mill waste by products, promoting the recycling of organic materials into value added fertiliser. The presentation highlighted its high organic matter content and potential to reduce inorganic fertiliser usage by 15–20%, supporting sustainable waste management and more efficient resource utilisation.
Overall, the presentation emphasized that early prevention and biological control are important components of sustainable Ganoderma management. With continued field monitoring and appropriate plantation practices, Sawit Shield offers a potential approach to protecting oil palm health, improving yield performance and supporting more sustainable plantation management.