Harvesting & Grading of FFB

1.         INTRODUCTION

The important process in oil palm plantation is to harvest of fresh fruit bunches at the optimum ripeness for maximum oil yields as the content of a fruit bunch is a function of its degree of ripeness. The degree to which the actual ripeness at harvest is reached varies from the standard and will depend particularly on the leght of harvesting round. With long rounds, harvester walking time is reduced as there is a high density of ripe bunches, but this offset by the longer time required collecting the larger amounts of the loose fruits from the riper bunches. FFB grading is the process of inspecting and assessing the quality oil palm fresh fruit bunch by taking random samples of bunches from a consignment at the mill or at the buyer’s premises (FFB dealer).

2.         ESTATE EXPERIENCE AND FIELD VISIT OBSERVATION

In my experience as a field supervisor, the important thing in my job or during harvesting is to ensure the harvester  harvested harvest the ripe bunches, the harvesting interval should be maintained around 14-18 days interval, all harvested FFB must send to the mill within 24 hours. Sometime, I also walking in the harvesting path to ensure no FFB left behind and all loose fruits are collected.

3.          SUGGESTION AND RECOMMENDATION

a.         Fruit Ripenses Standard

The extration rate obtained by a factory is greatly affected by fruit ripeness standards since the oil content of fruit increases rapidly from the time that bunch colour begins to change from black to reddish-orange until full ripeness is achieved. The most usual method of defining the ripeness standard is by reference to the number of loose or detached fruits, with ten loose fruits on the ground being a commonly-used standard.

b.         Harvesting Intervals

In order the intended harvesting intervals to be implemented, the estate management needs to continuously assess the capabillity of its harvesting gang from time to time. This is to ensure that the number of harvesters, FFB and loose fruit collecters is matched with the harvested areas. Harvesting of FFB in plantations are generally planed and organized after ascertaining the following aspects:

·         Area to be harvested (hectare)

·         Harvester gang requirements (persons) – after considering their productivity which depends on their skill and system of operation. Fresh raw recruits are generally less productive than the experience ones.

·         Intended harvesting intervals

The formula to calculate the number of harvesters required to harvest a designated area is given the formula below;

No.of harvested         =                          Total designated hectare__________                        

Harvester productivity  x  Harvesting  intervals      

                                              

c.         Harvesting Operation

Harvesting may be said to comprise the following essential operation:

        i.            Tool preparation. It is essential that the harvested should maintain his tools in good condition with suitable handles and sharp cutting edges.

      ii.            Moving through the area to be harvested and indentifying ripe bunches, preferably by the combined observation of fruit colour and number of loose fruits on the ground.

    iii.            Where bunch cutting cannot be achieved without removing the subtending frond, this has first to be cut and stacked in the inter-row, in such a way that paths and drains are not blocked. If fronds are not moved, they are frequently partially cut and hang down, impeding access to fruit would become nearly imposibble.

    iv.            Cutting the bunch, trimming the bunch stalk as short as possible and dislodging any loose fruit which may have been trapped in frond base axils.

      v.            Picking up bunches and placing them in the wheel-barrow.

    vi.            Collecting all the loose fruits and putting it into the wheel-barrow.

  vii.            Carrying fruit to the collection point. This may be a road-side platform.

viii.            Loading fruit into transport.

    ix.            The operations are usually carried out in plantation by a two-person team, comprising a harvester and carrier, with a separate loading gang working closely with the transport organization.

d.         Controlling Harvesting Standards

Despite the fact harvesting efficiency is so important in relation profitability, through both oil quantity and quality. Regular supervision is required to determine whether maximum efficiency is being obtained. Controlling harvesting standards are as below:

                      i.            Frond removal minimal and in accordance as far as possible, with the policy of retaining two ‘whorls’ of fronds below the lowest fruit bunches for a palm up to 10 years old.

                    ii.            Pruned fronds neatly stacked and clear of all paths and drains.

                  iii.            No ripe bunches missed since these will be very over-ripe by the time of next harvesting round.

                  iv.            No unripe bunches cut, as this will result in loss of oil and kernel.

                    v.            All loose fruit collected.

                  vi.            Avoiding excessive handling and bruising so as to assist in minimizing increases in FFA levels.

                vii.            Bunch stalk should be short since long stalks interfere with loading and also absorb a small amount of oil during initial processing.

              viii.            Shaking out good fruit from poorly- pollinated bunches, with the empty bunches thrown away and not transported to the factory.

                  ix.            No contamination of fruit with soil and other debris especially during loose fruit collection.

                    x.            Fruit transport to the factory with the minimum possible delay, although this is mush less important than careful handling for good quality oil.

Regurlarly checks should be made by field conductor and senior staff of estate. If necessary, penalties for improper practices are to be paid and enforcing penalties is important in maintaining high standard.

e.         Payment for Harvesting

Yields and conditions very between regions and labour laws between countries. Harvesting does lend itself to schemes of payment related to output either in form of strict piece work rates or with production-related incentive or bonus element over basic wage. Most plantations operate one or other of theses methods of payment, calculation for which are either based on the weight of fruit harvested or the number of bunches cut. To facilitate recording of individual harvester weight, each cutter/carrier or team is usually given a number. This is written on a bunch stalk or paper attached to each heap of fruit at the collecting point.

f.         FFB Grading

The main aim of this FFB grading manual is to improve the quality and quantity of cure palm oil and kernel production in Malaysia. The specific of objectives are as follow:

        i.            To improve the quality of oil palm fresh fruit bunches received at the mills

      ii.            To improve the quality of Malaysian Crude Palm Oil (CPO).

    iii.            To improve the efficiency of oil and kernel extraction rates in the mills.

    iv.            To ensure that the suppliers and millers obtain a fair deal from their transactions.

g.         Sampling Producers

Selected about 50-100 bunches at random as sample from each consignment to be graded. The sample taken should represent the top, middle and bottom portions of the consignment.           The minimum sample size of each consignment to be graded should be determined based on the following criteria:

          i.            If the net weight of the consignment is less than 5 tonnes, the minimum sample size should be 50 bunches.

        ii.            If the net weight of the consignment is 5 tonnes or more, the minimum sample size should be 100 bunches.

The sample size should be economical, practical and able to detect any change in the bunch quality especially the degree of ripeness at 95% level of confidence.

Separate the bunches that have been sampled for grading from the rest of the bunches.

h.         Grading Methods

The sample that has been selected will be graded to determine the quality of the bunches and the extraction rate can be given to the supplier. During grading the followingpractices should be carried out:

        i.            Inspection and Assessment of the bunch quality.

      ii.            Calculation of penalty for the poor quality bunches.

    iii.            Determination of the basis extraction rate.

    iv.            Calculation of the extraction rate.

i.          Grading Form

All observations and calculations during the process of grading must be recorded in the grading form. The particulars that have to be recorded are as follow:

        i.            Net weight.

      ii.            Number of bunches.

    iii.            Average bunch weight

    iv.            Number of percentage of ripe bunch.

      v.            Number of percentage of unripe bunch.

    vi.            Number of percentage of under ripe bunch.

  vii.            Number of percentage of rotten bunch.

viii.            Number of percentage of empty bunch.

    ix.            Number of percentage of dirty bunch.

      x.            Number of percentage of long stalk bunch.

    xi.            Number of percentage of dura bunch.

  xii.            Number of percentage of old bunch.

xiii.            Number of percentage of wet bunch.

xiv.            Observation on bunch quality.

  xv.            Name and signature of grading officer.

4.         CONCLUSION

Harvesting is the important role and exerts considerable influence on both oil extraction rates and the final oil quality (CPO). If we harvest the poor quality bunches, it will lead to low and high FFA. The aim of good harvesting technique is to obtain the maximum amount of good quality oil in the most economical manner. Beside, good grading practices should also be adapted to achieve high OER and quality of CPO.

5.         REFERENCES

        i.            Lecturer and Lecture notes, sem II Oil Palm Management & Technology 2011

      ii.            Management and staff/workers NSOP, Ladang Ibam,

    iii.            Chin Teck Plantation Sdn Bhd, Gemima Estate,PD