Address social time-bomb, Muthuvel says

GOVERNMENT involvement is needed to address the “social time- bomb” created by the old structure of the oil palm industry in West New Britain, Governor Sasindran Muthuvel says.
The Government is considering whether to waiver accumulated land rentals by oil palm farmers.
“We are sitting on a social time- bomb in West New Britain as the World Bank which established the oil palm industry first in WNB abandoned us without any further technical or financial assistance,” Muthuvel, pictured, said.
“The real social issue is what was originally intended for one family – 4ha (hectare) block per family for oil palm cultivation and 2 ha for garden or food crops.
“(These) are now fully planted with oil palm with our room for food crops in anticipation of more income as the block which was intended for one family is today occupied by four families,” he said.
Muthuvel told The National that overcrowding on land originally meant for a smaller sized family was causing social issues.
“Brothers are fighting for ownership and in some instances killing each other and some take turn to harvest fruits.
“No one is helping us to address this social issue.
“Oil palm industry is getting less attention from the Government, especially oil palm growers.”