African Magic Insect Brought to Indonesia, Profits in Just 6 Months
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (Gapki), Eddy Martono, revealed that the use of pollinating insects from Tanzania has the potential to increase domestic palm oil productivity by around 10-15%.
According to him, the deployment of these insects is one of the productivity enhancement efforts currently being implemented by the national palm oil industry through Gapki.
“We have already been running a productivity enhancement programme by introducing pollinating insects. First, these are from Tanzania, as well as genetic resources. The genetic resources are also from Tanzania; now what we are running is with Zambia, which is in process,” Eddy said during a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture office in Jakarta on Wednesday (11/3).
He stated that the use of pollinating insects from Tanzania is expected to make the palm oil fruit formation process more perfect, thereby increasing production.
“Yes, we hope so. Why? Because the fruit formation will be more perfect. It should be able to increase production by around 10-15%,” he said.
In addition to pollinating insects, the development of new genetic resources is also considered to have the potential to significantly boost palm oil plantation productivity.
“With new genetic resources, it should be able to increase even higher. Why? Because previously it might only be 24 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) per hectare per year, it could double,” he said.
Eddy mentioned that the impact of releasing these pollinating insects is estimated to be visible in a relatively short time.
“Once we release them, if this is successful, the ones we release only take 6 months for the results to be seen,” he said.
However, in the initial release stage of the pollinating insects, Eddy said it would still be carried out on a limited basis within the Gapki consortium members’ environment.
“But indeed, the release now is limited. Not all yet. Still with the Gapki consortium members, and after that we will start releasing it to the public as well,” he said.
Eddy assessed that increasing productivity is an important step to support the government’s programme in achieving energy self-sufficiency through biodiesel, without disrupting palm oil exports.
“The only way is for us to increase production. So that exports continue to run, but energy can also proceed. Not killing each other, for example, we increase for biodiesel, but exports drop,” he said.
He also emphasised that the biodiesel programme to date has not used funds from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN), but rather comes from palm oil export levies.
“The question is, who will fund the biodiesel (if CPO exports are affected)? Currently, biodiesel practically has not a single rupiah from the APBN. All funds are from export levy funds,” he explained.
On the same occasion, Eddy also revealed that they had met with Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman to discuss the productivity enhancement programme, including plans for releasing the pollinating insects and new genetic resources.
“I conveyed to the Minister that this is ready to be released, the pollinating insects including the genetic resources,” Eddy said.
Gapki also plans to ask Minister Amran to personally officiate the release.
“Well, our plan is to request the Minister to release this. Because this is very monumental, why? Because this increases productivity,” he said.
He added that the release of the pollinating insects and genetic resources is planned to take place after Eid, around April, in Medan, North Sumatra.
“And alhamdulillah, it seems he is willing, we will arrange the time. But the plan is after Eid. After Eid, around April, we will release the pollinating insects and also the genetic resources,” he concluded.