Kesan Teknologi Terhadap Perkembangan Kelapa Sawit Di Tanah Melayu, 1917-1941

The Impact of Technology on the Development of Oil Palm in Malaya, 1917 – 1941

Abstract

ABSTRAK

Artikel ini membincangkan penggunaan teknologi moden dalam penanaman kelapa sawit di Tanah Melayu pada era kolonial. Tumpuan diberikan terhadap kesan penggunaan teknologi pertanian dalam pembangunan industri sawit di Tanah Melayu. Hal ini kerana, dalam mengkaji kesan tersebut, ia membantu menilai manfaat ekonomi dan cabaran yang berkaitan, di samping memberikan pandangan tentang potensi penciptaan pekerjaan, peningkatan daya saing, dan pertumbuhan ekonomi yang mampan. Semasa era kolonial, pelbagai kemajuan teknologi telah disepadukan ke dalam pelbagai jenis tanaman terutamanya kelapa sawit bagi memudahkan pengurusan sumber, pengumpulan data dan pelaksanaan kaedah yang menepati piawaian. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif yang mentafsir sumber primer berdasarkan hasil heuristik dokumen sejarah. Antaranya rekod Pejabat Kolonial bagi membuktikan jenis eksperimen dan bentuk rawatan tanaman yang digunakan dalam pembangunan tanaman sawit. Selain itu, laporan pegawai pertanian dan pegawai ekonomi kolonial turut ditafsir untuk membuktikan nilai produksi dalam bentuk ton bagi minyak sawit dan isirong sawit. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa teknologi moden telah memberi impak positif dari segi peningkatan produktiviti, pengurangan kos, peningkatan kualiti, akses pasaran yang dipertingkatkan, penyelidikan dan pembangunan semuanya telah menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi serta kemampanan sektor minyak sawit.

Kata kunci: Teknologi, kelapa sawit, kolonialisme, pengurusan sumber, ekonomi

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the use of modern technology in oil palm cultivation in colonial Malaya. The focus is on the effects of agricultural technology in the development of the palm oil industry in Malaya. This is because studying these effects helps assess the associated economic benefits and challenges, as well as provide insights into the potential for job creation, increased competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth. During the colonial era, various technological advancements were integrated into various crops, particularly oil palm, to facilitate resource management, data collection, and implementation of standardized methods. This study employs a qualitative approach, interpreting primary sources based on heuristic analysis of historical documents. These include records from the Colonial Office to establish the types of experiments and plant treatment methods used in oil palm cultivation. Additionally, reports from agricultural and colonial economic officers are analyzed to determine production values in terms of tons for palm oil and palm kernels. The findings of the study indicate that modern technology has had a positive impact in terms of increased productivity, cost reduction, improved quality, enhanced market access, and research and development, all of which have contributed to the economic growth and sustainability of the palm oil sector

Keywords: Technology, palm oil, colonialism, resource management, economy