InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) Group continues to strengthen its contribution to supporting food self-sufficiency, in line with President Prabowo Subianto's vision. Various strategic programs have been launched, including collaborative innovations that have a broad and sustainable impact.
One of the flagship programs is the PT Perkebunan Nusantara Rice Planting Program (TAMPAN), which utilizes intercropping of upland rice in the replanting areas of smallholder palm oil plantations. This program targets an area of up to 206,000 hectares over the next five years, with a potential production of half a million tons of rice.
“This program not only supports national food needs but also provides additional income for palm oil farmers,” said Mohammad Abdul Ghani, President Director of PTPN III (Persero), in an official statement quoted by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (January 7, 2025).
Upland rice varieties, such as Situ Bagendit, can yield up to 5.5 tons per hectare in paddy fields and 4.0 tons per hectare in dry land. Collaboration with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Coordinating Ministry for Food ensures that this program has a significant impact. Based on studies, intercropping upland rice in smallholder palm oil replanting areas could add 1.1 million tons of national rice from a target of 400,000 hectares per year.
PTPN, through PT Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SGN), has also launched the Sweet Program aimed at strengthening the national sugar industry ecosystem. This program involves farmers, government agencies, banking institutions, and state-owned enterprises such as PT Pupuk Indonesia and Himbara (BRI, Mandiri, and BNI).
“This program is expected to increase sugarcane production while empowering the younger generation through sugar agripreneurship,” Ghani stated. Sugar agripreneurs will manage mini sugar estates ranging from 50 to 100 hectares, supported by technical training and access to funding through Saung Manis located in Mojokerto, Kediri, Lumajang, and Bone.
Tangible results are evident in the Mangliwetan sugarcane plantation in Bondowoso, where productivity increased from 76 tons to 110 tons per hectare, with sugar yield rising from 8.14% to 8.94%.
In food diversification, PTPN is utilizing its assets to support milk production through modern dairy farming. This program, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to increase the supply of animal protein, reduce imports, and create an efficient local supply chain.
PTPN Group's commitment includes improving farmers' welfare, food productivity, and national food security. “We continue to demonstrate our strategic role as the backbone of food self-sufficiency in Indonesia,” Ghani concluded. (T2)
