PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – Vice Minister of Agriculture, Harvick Hasnul Qolbi, underscored the government’s commitment to capitalize on all available opportunities to address the challenges of minor production. The focus lies in optimizing palm oil plantations, a directive directly issued by President Joko Widodo. Harvick emphasized the imperative for a significant leap to overcome challenges in the plantation industries.
During a discussion on the Kesatria (Kelapa Sawit Tumpang Sari Tanaman Pangan) Program, Harvick highlighted the critical need for an integrated program involving food crops within plantations. The primary emphasis is on palm oil, with the aim of maximizing plantation efficiency through the cultivation of food crops such as corn and other seasonal plants.
He thought, this would be significant program when food crisis is happening in the globe. Kesatria should be wisely implemented as the technical standards in the field. “Corn is chosen to start being developed because of some strategic reason,” he said when delivering speech in the discussion in the office of Ministry of Agriculture, Wednesday (15/11/2023).
Also Read :
The first is that the needs of corn reached 14 million tons per year while the domestic supply is not enough. This made Indonesia import corn as a regular solution. The second is that corn is needed not only as woof but also to fulfill people’s needs. The third, by optimizing palm oil plantations, Indonesia could save the revenue which would be used to pay corn imports.
He quoted from Central Bureau of Statistic (CBS) data that showed corn imports increased for years. In 2022, Indonesia imported 1,09 million tons of corn, increased 9,89% to the previous year. By having plan to get corn import up to 500.000 tons in 2023, the government hoped to get the backup and fulfill the breeders’ needs.
Meanwhile, General Director of Plantation Ministry of Agriculture, Andi Nur Alam Syah said that a temporary indication showed that corn could be planted on 175.000 hectares palm oil plantations. If the numbers could be taken for advantages well, they would escalate corn production up to 1 million tons of dry flakes nationally.
Also Read :
“Kesatria program is also hoped to deliver new employment and economic output for the farmers. The government planned to optimize the time in developing immature palm oil plantations. This program would also be focused to coconut, rubber, coffee, and cocoa plantations to boost corn production nationally,” Andi Nur said quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com. (T2)
