PALMOILMAGAZINE, LABUSEL – Kelompok Tani Sidomukti, developed by Koperasi Unit Desa (KUD) Panji Rukun, has utilized palm oil plantations for their smallholders replanting program (SRP) in the Village of Teluk Panji 2, Subdistrict of Kampung Rakyat, Labuhanbatu Selatan (Labusel), North Sumatera Province. They have planted melons on approximately 0.5 hectares of peatland.
Heri Susanto, Chairman of KUD Panji Rukun, stated that the SRP areas cover 2 hectares. “This initiative provides an additional income source for smallholders while their plantations are still maturing,” Heri noted during a visit to the location with Ahmad Sopiyan, Chairman of Sidomukti, as reported by Palmoilmagazine.com on Saturday, 20 July 2024.
Heri thought, it would be easy to sell melon because many melon traders want to get it. The profit projection by selling it from 0,5 hectare could be about Rp 20 million. The melon seeds planted were the Madesta F1, that smallholders independently purchased.
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This innovation would help not only escalate their income but also take advantages on peat more efficiently during SRP. The success of Kelompok Tani Sidomukti could be the sample for others to maximize their potential areas.
This initiative showed that it would be significant to get plant diversification in agriculture namely where the areas depended on one main kind of plant. By adopting the method, the smallholders would get additional income and minimize economic risks when depending on one commodity only. (P2)
