InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Indonesia's oil palm industry may need to look beneath the surface to unlock its untapped productivity potential. A new publication titled Root Management in Oil Palm proposes a shift in agronomic focus—from conventional fertilizer-based approaches toward integrated root and canopy management as a strategy to significantly enhance yields.
Authored by Memet Hakim, the book presents a fresh perspective amid concerns over stagnant productivity levels across Indonesia's palm oil sector. Rather than offering purely theoretical concepts, the publication draws from extensive field experience and translates it into practical agronomic engineering solutions aimed at improving plantation performance.
At the heart of the book lies the concept of Production Force Management, an approach built on the principles of root and canopy management. According to the author, the method has the potential to increase fresh fruit bunch (FFB) productivity by 30% to 80%.
Under optimal conditions, elite oil palm planting materials can yield around 40 tonnes of FFB per hectare annually. By applying the proposed management system, productivity could potentially rise to approximately 52 tonnes per hectare per year, representing a significant leap in output.
The book also highlights the crop's broader biomass potential. Total oil palm biomass production, according to the author, may reach around 70 tonnes per hectare annually, placing it on par with sugarcane and surpassing cassava, which has often been described as an "extractive crop."
A key theme throughout the publication is the substantial gap between Indonesia's actual plantation performance and the genetic potential of modern oil palm varieties.
Current productivity levels remain well below achievable targets. Large private estates are estimated to operate at only 43% of their potential, while state-owned plantations have reached around 51%. The situation is even more challenging among smallholders, whose productivity is estimated at just 32% of potential output.
Ironically, the state-owned plantation sector—which records the highest productivity levels—accounts for only about 3.5% of the country's total oil palm planted area. This imbalance, according to the author, underscores the urgent need for technical improvements at the plantation level.
Beyond agronomic practices, the book also touches on broader structural challenges facing Indonesia's plantation industry. It points to the existence of numerous underperforming private estates that have become financially distressed and, in some cases, failed to meet banking obligations.
From the author's perspective, rescuing these troubled assets—potentially through acquisition by state-owned plantation companies—could generate benefits for multiple stakeholders, including the government, financial institutions, and the long-term sustainability of the palm oil industry itself.
Ultimately, Root Management in Oil Palm seeks to encourage industry players to reconsider traditional production strategies. By paying greater attention to the often-overlooked role of root systems and canopy dynamics, the book argues that Indonesia's palm oil sector could take meaningful steps toward narrowing the gap between current yields and the crop's true potential.
As the world's largest palm oil producer continues to pursue productivity gains without expanding cultivated land, innovations in plantation management may become increasingly important in shaping the future competitiveness and sustainability of the industry. (T2)
For more insights, readers can refer to InfoSAWIT Magazine, April 2026 edition.
