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Sustainability report

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018

Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Conservation areas:

Within our estates, areas alongside river

banks (riparian reserves) are set aside as conservation areas

wildlife corridors which include, among others, sanctuaries for

migratory birds and habitat for jungle flora and fauna.

Soil Management:

We follow best industry practices,

e.g. establishing cover crops such as

Mucuna bracteata,

Calopogonium mucunoides

and

Calopogonium coeruleum

,

alone or in mixture, to improve soil properties and lower carbon

dioxide emissions. Vetiver grass has been planted along the

ponds, bunds and field drains to reduce erosion and prevent

landslips while at the same time help clean the wastewater.

Vetiver grass is a deep-rooted grass and is known for its high

tolerance of heavy metals, phosphates, nitrates and agricultural

chemicals. We also apply a mix of shredded empty fruit bunches

(“EFB”) with palm oil mill effluent (“POME”) as an organic source

of nutrient and hence reducing the input of inorganic fertiliser.

The Group’s businesses range from

manufacturing to plantation operations. In each

business segment, we are continually looking for

ways to reduce our environmental footprint.

Biological controls against pests:

Beneficial plants such as

Turnera Subulata, Antigonan Leptopus and Casia Cobanensis

are planted to attract predators (insects) of leaf pests. These

predators feed on leaf pest larvae thereby minimising the

use of pesticides. The introduction of barn owls in estates to

suppress rodent population and the placement of pheromone

traps to capture Rhinoceros beetles are among methods that

have been adopted and proven effective.

Environmental

assessment:

Environmental

impact

assessments are carried out ahead of any new plantation

development. During the year, the Group commenced an

environmental impact assessment (“EIA”) on its greenfield

development in Sungai Siput, Perak. The EIA is still on-going

and is expected to be completed this current financial year.

ENVIRONMENT

The Group’s priorities within this include: