Jakarta \u2014 The chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers\nAssociation (Gapki), Eddy Martono, stated that the introduction of\npollinator insects from Tanzania could potentially increase national\npalm oil productivity by approximately 10-15 per cent.<\/p>\n
He explained that the use of pollinator insects is part of a\nproductivity enhancement programme currently being implemented by the\nnational palm oil industry through Gapki. \u201cWe are already running a\nproductivity improvement programme by introducing pollinator insects.\nThis is the first from Tanzania, along with genetic resources also from\nTanzania. Currently, we are working with Zambia as well, which is in\nprocess,\u201d Eddy said during a press conference at the Ministry of\nAgriculture (Kementan) office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 11 March\n2026.<\/p>\n
According to him, the use of pollinator insects from Tanzania is\nexpected to make the palm fruit formation process more perfect, thereby\nincreasing production. \u201cWe certainly hope for that. Why? Because the\nfruit formation will be more perfect. It should be able to increase\nproduction by approximately 10-15 per cent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Beyond pollinator insects, the development of new genetic resources\nis also considered to have the potential to significantly boost palm\nplantation productivity. \u201cWith new genetic resources, it should increase\neven further. Why? Because what was previously perhaps only 24 tonnes of\nfresh fruit bunches (TBS) per hectare per year could double,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Eddy stated that the impact of releasing the pollinator insects is\nexpected to be visible relatively quickly. \u201cOnce we release them, if\nthis succeeds, it will only take 6 months before we see the effects,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, at the initial stage of pollinator insect release, Eddy\nnoted, it will still be conducted on a limited basis within Gapki\nconsortium member environments. \u201cBut this release is limited for now.\nNot all. Still among Gapki consortium members, and only after that will\nwe begin releasing them to the wider public,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Eddy viewed the productivity increase as an important step to support\nthe government\u2019s programme in achieving energy self-sufficiency through\nbiodiesel, without disrupting palm oil exports. \u201cThe only way is for us\nto increase production. So that exports can continue, but energy can\nalso proceed. They don\u2019t harm each other \u2014 for example, we don\u2019t\nincrease for biodiesel while exports fall,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also emphasised that the biodiesel programme has not used funds\nfrom the state budget; rather, funds come from palm oil export levies.\n\u201cThe question is, who will finance biodiesel if CPO exports are\nimpacted? Currently, biodiesel practically has no funds from the state\nbudget. All funds come from export levies,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, Eddy also revealed that he had met with the\nMinister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, to discuss the productivity\nenhancement programme, including plans to release pollinator insects and\nnew genetic resources. \u201cI informed the Minister that this is ready to be\nreleased, including both the pollinator insects and genetic resources,\u201d\nEddy said.<\/p>\n
Gapki also plans to request that Minister Amran officially conduct\nthe release ceremony. \u201cOur plan is to request that the Minister\npersonally conduct the release. Because this is very monumental \u2014 why?\nBecause it increases productivity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the release of pollinator insects and genetic resources\nis scheduled to take place after Ramadan, around April, in Medan, North\nSumatra. \u201cThe Minister, thank goodness, seems willing. We will arrange\nthe timing. But the plan is after Ramadan, around April, we will release\nthe pollinator insects and genetic resources,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wonder-insect-from-africa-brought-to-indonesia-yields-profits-in-6-months-1773222725", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }