The Need for Family Labor in Helping to Increase the Management of Smallholder Palm Oil

Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on New Trends in Management, Business and Economics

Year: 2026

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The Need for Family Labor in Helping to Increase the Management of Smallholder Palm Oil

Zurinah Binti Tahir, Suraiya Ishak, Fatin Umaira Muhamad Azian, Siti Radiation Adawiyah Zakaria

ABSTRACT:

Labour plays a crucial role in the sustainability and management of the oil palm sector, particularly among smallholder plantations. Family labour serves as a primary workforce resource in managing and cultivating small scale oil palm farms, especially in rural areas. This study aims to examine the level of importance of family labour in enhancing the productivity of smallholder oil palm production. A quantitative research approach was employed, involving 345 smallholder respondents in Bakong and Marudi, Sarawak. The findings indicate that the need for family labour is at a high level, with the greatest contribution coming from household members, particularly the husband or father as the head of the household, followed by the wife, children, and close relatives. Family members are actively involved in key plantation activities such as harvesting, fertilizing, collecting fresh fruit bunches (FFB), gathering loose fruits, pruning fronds, weeding, and applying herbicides. The study highlights that family labour significantly contributes to increasing management and improving the economic income of smallholder oil palm farmers. These findings underscore the critical role of family based labour in sustaining smallholder oil palm operations. Policymakers and agricultural agencies can design support programs, training, or subsidies that recognize and strengthen the role of family labour in improving productivity and farm sustainability. Since family labour contributes directly to farm income, strategies to optimize labour allocation can improve household economic resilience.

Keywords: Economic, Family Labour, Management, Oil Plam, Smallholder Plantations