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Indonesia replants oil palm trees on 9,109-ha land in N Sumatra
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Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said much of the oil palm trees were too old. (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
T
he government is planting oil palm trees to replace old ones on 9,109.29 hectares of plantations owned by local growers in North Sumatra to help increase the productivity of the plantations.
The plantations are located in 12 regencies: Serdang Bedagai, Langkat, Labuhan Batu, South Labuhan Batu, North Labuhan Batu, Asahan, Batubara, Simalungun, Padang Lawas, North Padang Lawas, Deli Serdang and Central Tapanuli.
"The replanting program is crucial because 470,000 has of oil palm plantations in the province are owned by local farmers, 350,000 has of which are too old," said Economic Coordinating Minister Darmin Nasution, when accompanying President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s visit in North Sumatra on Monday.
Indonesia is the world’s biggest palm oil producer, with 11.9 million has of oil palm plantations, 41 percent of which are owned by individuals. Around 2.3 million households cultivate their own oil palm plantations.
"It is a big job to replant the oil palm trees owned by local farmers. There are 4.6 million has," he said.
In addition to the large areas that need to be planted, the government also faces other problems, including uncertain status of land ownership. (bbn)
