Credit: Palmoilmagazine.com
Palmoilmagazine.com, PALEMBANG – Palm oil plantation Koperasi Unit Desa (KUD) Maju Jaya, the plasma smallholders of PT Buluh Cawang Plantation, Wilmar Group successfully did the first harvest of replanting program just in 30 - 33 months after the planting. The harvest was faster than it predicted that would be 36 months. The success has something to do with the cooperatioin between the plasma and company.
Chairman of KUD Maju Jaya, I Ketut Sana said that the replanting program started in 2029 and the first planting was running in April 2020. The faster harvest happened for the good cooperation between plasma KUD and company and the implementation of good agriculture practices (GAP), such as, planting superior seeds the TS1; right time and doze to apply fertilization; having counselors and running pest control. The TS1 was produced by PT Tania Selatan while the fertilizer was from Pupuk Mahkota, Wilmar Group.
"Though the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) harvest is less than three years old, the company bought it as it is a three year old – FFB,” Ketut said in the spare time of the first harvest ceremony of KUD Maju Jaya in Village of Suka Jaya, Ogan Komiring Ilir (OKI), South Sumatera Province, Selatan, Monday (9/1/2023).
He also told that the harvest was not conducted in the same time because the replanting itself ran in phases but it is predicted next month every plasma smallholder would be in harvest. “The total palm oil plantations of the members of KUD laid about 600 hectares belonging to about 300 smallholders.
Prior the members of KUD could only produce 14 tons per hectare per year but after planting superior seeds produced by Tania Selatan, their plantation productivity would be potentially producing up to 30 tons per hectare per year. “The partnership has been running since 1997 and we hope to be better in the future,” Ketut said, as in the official statement to Palmoilmagazine.com.
Besides, since 2018 Wilmar has been accompanying KUD Maju Jaya to get replanting fund program from Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (PFMA) which is Rp 25 million per hectare. Until now the members of KUD are in progress to get Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certificate.
Head of Cooperation, Small, Medium Business, and Industry, District of OKI, Herliansyah Hilaludin did appreciate the cooperation among Wilmar, Bank Sumsel Babel, and Forestry and Environment Agency. He hoped, the good cooperation would help the smallholders to get the solution for what they are facing. “In fact, they have issues but we hope the good cooperation would be getting the best solution,” he said.
Plantation Head Wilmar, Simon Siburat mentioned, Wilmar is committed to develop its plasma smallholders through the replanting program so that their plantation productivity could be the same with the main plantation one. In general, the plasma smallholders have experienced in the replanting program.
Many years ago, the smallholders did no believe the superior seeds for palm oil trees could wildly grow. But after ten years, the trees’ productivity was low in numberddds. This was the reason why the smallholders did the replanting program and plant superior seeds. “The company tries its best to develop them but the result would depend on each plasma,” Simon said.
Now the company is in cooperation with 12 thousand hectares f plasma plantation in District of OKI and Musi Banyuasin. (T2)
