InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — Amid the challenges of climate change, plant disease attacks, and global commodity price fluctuations, Indonesia's plantation sector has received a breath of fresh air. Six superior varieties — four oil palm and two cocoa — were officially released at the Plantation Crop Variety Release Session for Semester I of 2025, as a result of joint work between the government, business actors, and research institutions.
This release process is not just an administrative routine. Behind it, there is an important leap in genetic innovation that is the foundation for the sustainability of the national plantation industry. The Head of the Plantation Crop Variety Assessment Team (TPV), Ebi Rulianti, said that this decision was born from a long process involving strict selection based on agronomic performance, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability.
"The varieties released this time answer real challenges in the field. We are not just talking about high yields, but also about farming efficiency, climate adaptation, and resistance to endemic diseases such as Ganoderma in oil palm," said Ebi, who also serves as Director of Plantation Seeds, Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture, quoted InfoSAWIT from the Directorate General of Plantations, Thursday (22/5/2025).
Three oil palm varieties come from PT Gunung Sejahtera Ibu Pertiwi (GSIP), with the advantage of being resistant to stem rot. Another variety owned by PT Socfin Indonesia has the advantage of producing abundant male flowers, an important key to improving pollination efficiency in production gardens.
From the cocoa commodity, the two varieties released are the result of synergy between PT Mars Symbioscience Indonesia and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). Both not only promise high productivity and optimal fat content — two important indicators in the cocoa industry — but also demonstrate cross-agroclimate adaptability, which is much needed in the era of extreme weather.
Acting Director General of Plantations Heru Tri Widarto emphasized that the release of superior varieties is part of the government's long-term strategic efforts to strengthen the national seed system. "We want to ensure that every farmer in Indonesia, from Aceh to Papua, has access to seeds that are not only superior, but also relevant to their local conditions," he said.
Moreover, according to Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, this step is a reflection of the importance of cross-sector collaboration in strengthening Indonesia's food security and competitiveness in the global market. "We need a scientific, data-based, and participatory approach. The varieties released are real evidence that research and innovation do not stop in the laboratory - but are present in people's gardens," said the Minister of Agriculture.
In a broader context, the release of this variety is also an answer to the productivity stagnation experienced by some community plantations. Although Indonesia is a major producer of palm oil and one of the largest cocoa exporters, productivity per hectare is still far from its maximum potential. This is largely due to the use of uncertified seeds, low access to technology, and minimal plant regeneration.
With the presence of new varieties that have been scientifically proven, the opportunity to improve garden performance is more open. However, the challenges ahead remain large: distribution of superior seeds must reach small farmers, cultivation training needs to be improved, and the system for monitoring variety performance in the field must be strengthened.
Therefore, this release is not the finish line, but rather the beginning of a long mission to build an inclusive and adaptive seed ecosystem. Indonesian farmers now have more choices, and with the right support, these varieties can be a catalyst for the transformation of the plantation sector towards a more resilient, productive and sustainable future. (T2)
