Kotabaru, Kalsel – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) conducted maiden planting of rice under the rice-oil palm intercropping system in smallholders’ plantations which join the national replanting program.
The rice-oil palm intercropping system is implemented under a collaboration of GAPKI and the Village Cooperative Unit (KUD) of Gajah Mada, which is under the tutelage of PT Tapian Nadenggan as member company of GAPKI, in Telagasari village of Kotabaru regency in South Kalimantan (Kalsel) province.
“This is part of our efforts to accelerate the replanting of smallholders’ oil palm plantations under a partnership program with GAPKI,” GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono said after launching the maiden planting of rice-oil palm intercropping program in Kotabaru, Kalsel, recently.
He said that the replanting program is one of the main programs of GAPKI, which helps the smallholders in implementing the replanting of their palm plantations, which have been old and no longer productive.
“It is also combined with the rice intercropping system, which is the first in Indonesia. Hopefully, the replanting will increase our national production of palm oil in the future,” he said.
According to Eddy, the intercropping system of the Padi Gogo type of rice can be implemented until the young palm trees’ canopy has not yet reached their full cover. While supporting smallholders financially until their first palm harvest, it will also boost the national production of rice that will then secure national food resilience.
He said that the replanting program is very important as the palm oil industries have now become the main source of income for 17 million families, consisting of smallholders, workers; and also the main contributor to Indonesia’s foreign exchange income.
He said that in 2022, Indonesia’s foreign exchange income from the palm oil industries reached US$39.28 billion, resulting in the country’s surplus in its trade balance at US$55.77 billion.
“But there are a number of challenges that will likely affect palm oil production in the future. Among them include the uncertainty of regulations that should be tackled jointly with the government,” said Eddy.
The launching ceremony of the rice-oil palm intercropping system was also attended by Ardi Praptono, Director of Oil Palm and Palm Varieties at plantation directorate general of the agriculture ministry’s, GAPKI Central Board and GAPKI Kalsel Office, the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Board (BPDPKS), Kalsel Provincial Government, Kotabaru regental government, KUD Gajah Mada, and other related officials and organizations. (*)
Source: kalsel.antaranews.com
