Rejuvenation of Oil Palm Land Expected to Increase National Palm Production

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) of palm oil targets to rejuvenate 185 thousand hectares of oil palm plantations owned by farmers this year. It was greeted positively by some circles.

"Oil palm rejuvenation assistance to self-help farmers is expected to increase national palm oil production in the next few years," said Plantation Observer Gamal Nasir to the press in Jakarta on Thursday (18/1/2018).

Gamal rate, oil palm plantation owned by many self-help farmers and the production is low. With the replanting program with funding of around Rp 5 trillion from BPDP this year, the production of palm oil farmers will soar.

"I appreciate BPDP Palm Oil which this year will continue to replant the palm," said Gamal.

Gamal added that the replanting program will increase the production of palm oil from an average of 10 tons to 12 tons per ha in a year to 25 tons per year.

"Of course this will improve the welfare of farmers. The replanting program of oil palm crops is one solution to anticipate the stagnation of production due to a moratorium on oil palm plantation development by the government," said Gamal.

Gamal is optimistic that with this replanting program, Indonesia's position as the world's largest producer of crude palm oil remains irreplaceable by Malaysia. "For about 40% of the total 11 million ha of oil palm plantation belongs to the farmers and that is what the government replanted," he concluded. (imq)