InfoSAWIT, MUARO JAMBI – Oil palm replanting remains one of the biggest challenges facing independent smallholders, as the transition can reduce plantation productivity and disrupt household income. To address the challenge, the Faculty of Agriculture at Jambi University (UNJA) has provided assistance to independent oil palm farmers in Muaro Jambi Regency.
The community service program, titled “Strengthening the Independent Smallholder Oil Palm Agribusiness Model Through FEROTRAP Adoption for Farmers’ Economic Resilience and Sustainability During Replanting,” was held in Bukit Baling Village, Sekernan District, Muaro Jambi, on Monday.
The program is designed to strengthen farmers' preparedness for the replanting period by introducing innovations that can support more effective plantation management. The adoption of FEROTRAP is one of the approaches introduced by the UNJA team.
Karina Rahmah, head of the community service team, said replanting requires careful preparation because farmers must go through a period when newly planted oil palms have yet to produce fruit, potentially reducing household income.
“We are conducting this activity to assist independent oil palm farmers in developing a better understanding and greater preparedness for the replanting period. Through the introduction and adoption of FEROTRAP, we hope farmers can access alternative innovations that support plantation management while strengthening their economic sustainability,” she said, as reported by InfoSAWIT from UNJA on Monday (Aug. 17, 2026).
According to Karina, strengthening farmers' capacity cannot focus solely on technical cultivation practices. Farmers also need strategies to maintain business continuity and household income while their plantations undergo replanting.
During the program, the UNJA team provided materials on strengthening independent smallholder oil palm agribusiness and opened discussions with farmers about challenges encountered in their plantations.
Poniran, one of the participating farmers, welcomed the assistance. He said the program provided new knowledge about innovations that could be applied to oil palm plantation management.
“We gained new knowledge about plantation management and the use of FEROTRAP. Assistance like this is very helpful for us as farmers, particularly as we prepare for the replanting period,” he said.
The activity also included an introduction to the application of FEROTRAP in plantation areas. Farmers discussed plantation conditions, economic challenges during replanting and opportunities to adopt innovations that could support the sustainability of their businesses.
UNJA hopes the program will contribute to strengthening independent smallholder oil palm agribusiness in Muaro Jambi. Assistance and innovation adoption are considered important not only to help farmers navigate the replanting period, but also to maintain economic resilience and plantation productivity over the long term. (T2)
