Terrain, Learning and Unit Cost in Mechanised In-Field Evacuation of Oil Palm Fresh Fruit Bunches: A Seven-Month Operational Record of a Mini Platform Collection System in Kedah, Malaysia

Abstract

Mechanisation of in-field fresh fruit bunch (FFB) evacuation is central to reducing the dependence of the Malaysian oil palm sector on manual field labour, yet published performance figures come mostly from short trials rather than routine commercial operation. This study analysed 175 machine-days of operating records from a single mini platform collection (MPC) unit working ten blocks of a commercial oil palm estate in Sungai Petani, Kedah, from 1 January to 31 July 2026. Daily throughput, output per harvester served and unit operating cost were tested against terrain class and elapsed operating time. The unit evacuated 3,552.4 t of FFB, averaging 20.30 t per machine-day (SD 5.62). Terrain class had no significant effect on machine throughput (F = 0.71, p = 0.491), but output per harvester served differed sharply (F = 32.46, p < 0.001), falling from 6.21 t on undulating blocks to 2.95 t on hilly blocks, where gangs averaged 7.4 workers against 3.3. Throughput rose from 14.86 t per day in January to 25.69 t in June, the second half of the record exceeding the first by 27.9 per cent. Operating cost averaged RM 84.91 per machine-day, 86 per cent of it the operator wage, giving a unit cost of RM 4.18 per tonne. The terrain penalty of platform-dependent evacuation falls on harvesters, not on the machine.