PALMOILMAGAZINE, PALU – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA) in Central Sulawesi Province has proposed using palm oil empty fruit bunches as an alternative organic fertilizer to boost plantation productivity in Indonesia. Halik Barutu, a representative of IPOA Central Sulawesi, mentioned this initiative during an event in Palu.
Barutu highlighted that the scarcity and high cost of chemical fertilizers pose a significant challenge for many smallholders. Utilizing empty fruit bunches as organic fertilizer could potentially reduce fertilizer costs by up to 30 percent. In some plantation blocks, the application of empty fruit bunches has successfully minimized the overall use of chemical fertilizers.
“It needs to conduct more socialization and education about the advantages of empty bunches. IPOA Central Sulawesi Province would support it,” he said, as Palmoilmagazine.com quoted from Antara, Tuesday (16/7/2024).
Also Read: Utilizing Empty Fruit Bunches in Palm Oil Plantations
Meanwhile, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) and Universitas Tadulako (Untad) conducted socialization about palm oil empty bunch carbonization and its application as soil conditioner. It was about to escalate efficiency and good soil in palm oil plantations in the province.
Professor Erliza Hambali from IPB said that Indonesia, as the biggest palm oil producer in the world would face challenge about the very expensive fertilizers namely because of the rare imported materials and other external factors, such as, the war and currency fluctuation.
“The socialization would be very important because this province is one biggest palm oil producer in Indonesia,” she said.
It means, the application of empty bunches would reduce not only production cost for smallholders but also support sustainable environment and escalate plantation productivity in a whole. (P2)
