Pekanbaru, Riau, Dec 4 (Antarariau.com) - Plasma farmers under Village Cooperatives (KUD) Mulus Rahayu, in Siak District, Riau, has succeeded in replanting 310 hectares of oil palm plantations.
High yield seeds were used in the replanting with a productivity of 30 tons of fresh fruit bunchesper hectare a year.
"The progress in replantingoil palm plantations in Riau is slow. The government and the private sector would continue to encourage replanting," Head of Siak District Syamsuar said addressing first harvestfrom the replanting program in Siak on Tuesday.
Syamsuar, who is a governor elect of Riau for 2019-2024, said, currently, there are many oil palm plantations no longer productivewith oil palm trees being too old as old as more than 25-30 years.
He acknowledged many factors hampering the farmers from replanting their plantations including the cost being too high with the price of their commodity shrinking. The farmers also are worried that they would have no income during the time from replanting to harvest time.
The problem, however, could be overcomeby thevillage cooperatives of Mulus Rahayu. Mulus Rahayu has more than 600 members and it is the partner of Asian Agri since 1988.
The process of replanting by Mulus Rahayu was handled in cooperation with oil palm plantationAsian Agri. Omri Samosir, Head of Plantation Asian Agrisaid replanting of oil palm plantation byKUD of Mulus Rahayu began in 2016.
"Today , 30 months after replanting, faster than 48 months previously, Omri said.
Replanting program for oil palm plantations begsn in 2016. So far replanting has covered 1,500 hectares of plantations owned by small including plasma farmers. KUD of Mulus Rahayu is the pioneer in oil palm replanting and it has earned the result.
Replanting began over 310 hectares of plantations in 2016, up to 540 hectares in 2017 and this year covered 500 hectaresusing Topas seeds.
Chairman of KUD ofMulus Rahayu, Pawito Saringsaidthe cooperative had 135 members among plasma farmers.
Siak Oil Palm Plasma Farmers Succeed In Replanting Program
