54 Gabonese settlers undergoing training at Felda schemes

Gabon-based OLAM Palm Gabon SA has sent 54 Gabonese settlers to undergo a four-month training at Felda land schemes in Trolak, Perak and Tekam, Pahang.

The training, which entails a one-month stint on farm management and another three months on oil palm cultivation, is being conducted by Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV), FGV Organisational Learning and Development Manager Saiful Nizam Yahaya said.

FGV is undertaking and coordinating the training for the settlers as part of its corporate social responsibility, he told Bernama after welcoming the Gabonese nationals at Felda Residence Trolak, Sungkai near here recently.

The 270,000 sq km Gabon, situated along the Atlantic coast of West-Central Africa, has a population of 1.5 million and made forays into oil palm cultivation in recent years.

The Gabonese government is developing its oil palm industry with the cooperation of OLAM International Ltd by initiating the GRAINE scheme.

Modeled after the Felda scheme, GRAINE is aimed at turning villagers into self-reliant farmers, while creating a balanced agricultural economy and addressing the food security need of Gabon and the African region.

Once the Gabonese settlers have completed their training, the Gabonese government will allocate land for them to cultivate.

As studies show that the palm oil industry creates jobs, and is instrumental in improving infrastructure and social services, and reducing poverty, many developing countries are capitalising on it to boost their economy and people's standard of living.