Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The production of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) in a number of areas in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, has dropped drastically in the last few months.
Deputy Chairman of Gajah Mada village-level cooperatives (KUD) in Telaga Sari, Kotabaru, Narso, on Tuesday said that FFB production fell by 80 percent from the normal condition.
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"Under normal condition, I send 1,500 to 2,000 tons per month, but at present only about 150 tons per month," he pointed out.
Drought or what so-called as trek season was considered to be the cause of the fell of FFB production. Usually, it will last for 3 to 5 months.
However, the oil palm crops are also entering old age, or replanting preparation period. At that time, the flowers to become fruits decline.
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Narso, who is also a palm oil entrepreneur, added that although the FFB price has currently increased by about Rp50 per kg, from Rp1.350 to Rp1.400 per kg at the farmer level. However, because the fruit was reduced, the farmer's income has dropped.
There are even some plasma plantation areas managed by the KUD Gajah Mada whose yields were zero, while some others were minus because they need maintenance cost.
KUD Gajah Mada currently manages the plasma plantation owned by 5,477 members covering an area of 7,100 hectares, consisting of stage I of 2,100 hectares and stage II of about 5,000 hectares.
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Kotabaru's FFB production drops drastically
Jumat, 4 September 2020 6:29 WIB
Oil palm plantation in Kotabaru. ((Antara/doc/imam)
Under normal condition, I send 1,500 to 2,000 tons per month, but at present only about 150 tons per month,
