Plasma Program Becomes Solution for Increasing Oil Palm Farmers' Productivity Productivity of Oil Palm Farmers in Labuhanbatu Remains Low, Plasma Program Is the Solution Rep: Frederikus Bata/ Red: Intan Pratiwi

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID,LABUHANBATU -- The productivity of oil palm farmers in Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra, remains low. The average yield of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) is only around 700 kilograms per hectare (ha) per year, mainly due to the use of uncertified seedlings and fertilization practices that do not comply with regulations. The plasma program is being promoted as a solution to improve the welfare of farmers. This effort is realized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between PT Perkebunan Milano, part of the Wilmar Group, and the Seira Mandiri Jaya Producer Cooperative in Sei Rakyat Village, Labuhanbatu. The agreement includes technical guidance, access to capital, and marketing assurance for the harvest of cooperative members. Chairman of the Seira Mandiri Jaya Producer Cooperative, Edi Saputra, hopes that this cooperation will be able to increase the productivity of oil palm farmers to approach the company's standards. "The farmers have already ...