Major pests in oil palm plantations in Malaysia are rats, bagworms, nettle caterpillars, rhinoceros beetle, bunch moth and termite whilst the diseases of consequence are the Ganoderma basal stem rot and, to a lesser extent, Marasmius bunch rot.

Insecticides will remain the main weapon against insect pests, but an integrated approach is given increasing importance. This approach involves regular monitoring, good agronomic practices, conservation, supplementation and utilisation of natural control agents, and the judicious use of chemicals.

Chemicals with a broad-spectrum of activity, long and persistent residues, and high mammalian toxicity will continue to be replaced by safer and more target-specific products that are also safer to the environment.