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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: