Replanting Program Boost Oil Palm Seedlings Distribution

RAPID replanting program on palm oil plantation has boosted distribution of oil palm seedlings by Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (PPKS) in the first half of 2018. PPKS has distributed more than 12,303 million oil palm seedlings by the end of first semester of 2018 or increased by 40% compared to same period on last year which reached to 8,84 million seedlings. General Manager of Strategic Plant Material Unit of PPKS Edy Suprianto mentioned that there are three groups of replanting activities that has encouraged oil palm seedlings production by PPKS. “Replanting program on smallholders and small-scale farmers oil palm plantation,  companies that continued their delayed replanting programs, and independent replanting by smallholders farmers,” he said as quoted by Bisnis.com, (3/7/2018). Of the three different programs, oil palm independent replanting program by smallholders farmers is the main contributor to the increase. As many as 55% or 6,255 million seedlings have been distributed for replanting on local palm plantation. Meanwhile, replanting program runs by government has absorbed up to 1,755 million seedlings or 15% and private sector has absorbed 29% or 3,326 million seedlings. According to Edy, negative campaign on palm oil by European doesn’t have any impact on oil palm seedlings distribution. “Palm oil ban by European seems to have an impact on CPO (Crude Palm Oil) exports,” he said. (Bisnis.com)