PALMOILMAGAZINE, MEDAN – Many smallholders begin developing their plantations with great effort and determination, finding solutions to challenges along the way, according to Djend Muhayat of Pusat Penelitian Kelapa Sawit (PPKS) Medan.
Despite their best efforts to boost productivity, especially in the first 0-3 years, smallholders often face financial constraints. “The key to palm oil productivity is ensuring a population of more than 136 trees per hectare,” he said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from PPKS TV on Friday (26/7/2024).
To optimize production, keep the areas around the trees clean, maintaining a minimum two-meter diameter around each tree for effective fertilization. Regular fertilizer application is crucial and should follow a schedule: at 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, 8 years, and so on. NPK fertilizer (12-12-17) is recommended, but alternatives can be used if necessary. “If full application isn’t possible due to financial limitations, apply based on capability, aiming for a total of 2.5 kg per year,” Muhayat advised.
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It would be significant to get modal management wisely. Everything in the plantations that (the plantation owner) could do by himself, should not be handed over to others (to cultivate). This is about to save the spent. “When you you’re your plantations, you should regularly check yours to quickly mitigate the raising issues,” he said.
Herbicide application should be also wise because it is very expensive. Djend Muhayat emphasized it would be significant to be the same with the same doze to be effective and efficient.
The last, do benchmarking with the successful smallholders. This is very suggested. Many millennial smallholders successfully escalated their plantation productivity, such as in Jambi, Palembang, Singkil, and others “It is hoped from only one hectare, they could cultivate to be 24 hectares. Of course, everything should be in spirit and the right strategies,” he said.
The good cultivation and spirit would be the successful keys for smallholders to escalate their plantation productivity and be successful in their business. (P2)