InfoSAWIT, BATURAJA – A total of 91 oil palm smallholders from Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency, South Sumatra, have completed an intensive cultivation training program aimed at improving plantation productivity through better farming practices and stronger technical capacity. The initiative forms part of Indonesia's 2026 Oil Palm Plantation Human Resources Development Program supported by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP).
According to an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Wednesday (August 5), the training was organized jointly by BPDP, the Directorate General of Estates (Ditjenbun) of the Ministry of Agriculture, and IPB Training, with participants from Batches XXI, XXII, and XXIII attending sessions from July 28 to August 2, 2026.
Joni Saihu, Head of the OKU Agriculture Office, said the regency has experienced rapid growth in oil palm cultivation, with plantation area expanding from around 1,000 hectares in early 2022 to approximately 7,000 hectares today. Production also nearly doubled from 6,100 tonnes in 2024 to 12,120 tonnes in 2025.
Despite this progress, he acknowledged that productivity remains below its potential due to infrastructure limitations, small farm sizes, and the continued use of uncertified planting materials by many growers.
"Development has been encouraging, but productivity still needs significant improvement if OKU is to compete with other palm oil-producing regions in South Sumatra," Joni said.
The training program covered a wide range of topics, including certified seed selection, nursery management, land preparation, replanting, Legume Cover Crop (LCC) establishment, management of immature and mature palms, fertilization based on the 5T principle, integrated pest management, and institutional strengthening for smallholder organizations.
Participants also received hands-on experience in sprayer calibration, pesticide application, nutrient deficiency diagnosis, and biological pest control methods. A field visit to PPK Sembawa enabled farmers to observe best practices in nursery management, pruning, plant maintenance, and harvesting techniques while interacting directly with plantation experts.
Organizers expect the newly acquired knowledge to help participants increase productivity, improve plantation management efficiency, and promote more sustainable palm oil cultivation throughout OKU Regency, while contributing to the long-term competitiveness of Indonesia's smallholder palm oil sector. (T2)
