Perak smallholders suffer losses as elephants ravage oil palm plots

SUNGAI SIPUT: Eighteen oil palm smallholders in Rancangan Tanah Belia Khas (RTBK) Kampung Perlop 1 here are facing mounting distress after a herd of wild elephants destroyed their crops spanning about 81 hectares since early September.

One of the affected smallholders, Mastura Yusuf, 65, said her 12.1-ha plot suffered severe damage, with over 300 oil palm trees destroyed, particularly three-year-old saplings.

Mastura, who has been farming the land since 2002, said it was the worst destruction she had experienced from continuous elephant attacks.

She said the wild elephants also damaged farm infrastructure, including water storage containers and concrete water tanks.

She added that the intrusions not only threatened the main source of income for her and fellow villagers, but also ruined repeated replanting efforts.

She said the elephant intrusions had become increasingly frequent this year, particularly in September and October, forcing her to bear replanting costs for four separate cycles.

"If it costs RM35 just to plant a single tree, you can imagine how much loss I have suffered, not including other costs such as worker wages, fertiliser, and pesticides.

"We noticed the elephant attacks starting last year, but they have become more frequent recently, especially at night," she said when met at the plantation yesterday.

Another smallholder, Muhammad Azlan Adnan, 42, said two hectares of his six-hectare oil palm plot suffered extensive damage, particularly to the shoots and leaves.

"For smaller trees, the impact is worse because once pulled by an elephant, the tree dies instantly. Based on tracks, footprint sizes, and dung left behind, there are probably two or three elephants that entered my farm," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Faiz Ahmad, 40, said 120 out of 550 oil palm trees on his land were trampled and uprooted, resulting in losses between RM16,000 and RM17,000 in land preparation, pesticides, fertiliser, and replanting costs.

He said the severe disruption left most smallholders drained of capital and demoralised from continuing maintenance work for upcoming crops.

"Therefore, we appeal for intervention and financial assistance from relevant government agencies to ease our financial burden," he said.