Evaluating smallholder’s behaviour in oil palm waste management practice – A case study in Marudi, Sarawak

Abstract The concern over oil palm waste within the plantation sector has become significant, primarily due to smallholders’ inappropriate waste management practices. This issue emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable and responsible waste management strategies to mitigate environmental risks and promote long-term sustainability within the ecosystem. Thus, this present study was conducted to identify the factors affecting smallholder behaviour on oil palm waste management practices in Marudi, Sarawak. The primary data for this study were collected from 50 smallholder oil palm growers using a non-random sampling method with a well-structured close-ended questionnaire via face-to-face survey. Findings revealed that only attitude and perceived behavioural control significantly influence the smallholder’s behavior in managing the oil palm waste (p-value > 0.05). Meanwhile, subjective norms do not significantly affect the smallholder’s behavior in managing the oil palm waste (p-value < 0.05). It was also found that perceived behaviour was the most significant factor affecting the behaviour of the smallholders toward good waste management practices. In summary, the key roles of agencies in facilitating knowledge transfer and monitoring are crucial to ensuring that smallholders are adopting standardized waste management practices primarily for rural smallholders.