1．Introduction

　The oil palm industry plays an important role in Malaysia’s agriculture sector⁽¹⁾. In 2021, the oil palm sector has contributed more than 35% to the agriculture sector and 2.5% to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)⁽²⁾. The quality of the oil palm extracted from the oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) is affected by its maturity level which is determined by a set of standards by Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB)⁽³⁾. MPOB standards determines the criteria of harvesting by two methods which are colour of the fruits’ surface or the number of loose fruits detached from the bunch on the ground. The current method of harvesting depends on the visual inspection done by workers on the plantations. The condition of the trees such as its height (tall trees) and lighting conditions can affect the accuracy of the visual inspection. In addition, the workers’ lack of experience can also lead to harvesting of bunches which are not in the ideal maturity level, causing the production of low-quality oil palm or fines being imposed. Thus, advanced smart farming technology such as a mobile application implementing a ripeness classification model can potentially assist in the harvesting process of the FFBs. The model can compensate for the workers’ lack of experience in determining suitable FFBs for harvesting and also to ensure accurate ripeness classification despite unfavourable trees and lighting conditions.