Pestani Programme Boosts Melon Farmers' Productivity in Pantura
PT Petrokimia Gresik has successfully increased melon farmers’ productivity in East Java’s Pantura region by up to 10% through the Pestani Melon Pantura programme, participated in by 210 farmers. The programme has also driven an average 15% rise in farmers’ income within a single cultivation cycle.
Finance and General Director of Petrokimia Gresik, Adityo Wibowo, stated during the “Grand Harvest & Pestani Melon Pantura Appreciation” event in Tuban, East Java, on Tuesday (7/4), that the Pestani programme serves as a stimulus from Petrokimia Gresik to encourage farmers to boost melon productivity, quality, and income. He added that agricultural success forms the foundation for food security and societal welfare.
“This programme is a collaborative movement between Petrokimia Gresik and farmers. Here, we can witness that innovation, cultivation discipline, and the use of appropriate fertilisers can produce large-sized melons with optimal sweetness,” said Adit, Adityo Wibowo’s nickname.
The Pestani Melon Pantura is a melon cultivation competition involving farmers from planting, maintenance, to harvest stages. The competition was joined by hundreds of farmers from the Pantura region, ranging from Tuban Regency, Bojonegoro, Lamongan, Ngawi, to Gresik Regency.
Participants received support in the form of planting packages or agricultural production facilities from Petrokimia Gresik, including Phonska Lite, K-Plus, Liquid Phonska, Phosgreen, ZA Plus, and Petro Biofertil fertilisers. Through this activity, farmers can directly prove that using Petrokimia Gresik products contributes to increased harvest yields and commodity quality.
The competition assessment covered three main aspects: fruit weight, sweetness level (brix), and cultivation documentation. Participants were challenged to produce melons weighing close to 5.4 kilograms, aligning with Petrokimia Gresik’s upcoming 54th anniversary on 10 July 2026.
Meanwhile, this event has boosted Pantura melon farmers’ productivity from an average of 18 tonnes to 20 tonnes per hectare. Additionally, farmers’ income in one cultivation cycle has risen to an average of Rp22 million.
“We hope the success and cultivation methods of these competition participants can be emulated by other melon farmers, so the benefits of this programme become wider and more sustainable,” said Adit.
The Pestani organised by Petrokimia Gresik in Pantura is the company’s third programme. Previously, Pestani targeted potato farmers in Dieng Raya and watermelon farmers in East Java’s Tapal Kuda region. Similar to Pantura, the programme also improved horticultural agricultural productivity in those areas.
“We want to affirm Petrokimia Gresik’s commitment to continue being a strategic partner for farmers, not only as a fertiliser provider but also as a friend to grow together in enhancing productivity, harvest quality, and farmers’ welfare,” said Adit.
Meanwhile, the first-place winner of Pestani Melon Pantura, Suhartoyo, expressed that the competition has made melon farmers in East Java’s Pantura region more knowledgeable in facing challenges. Especially since the cultivation for the competition was held amid quite extreme weather.
“The use of Petrokimia Gresik products has increased productivity and quality, particularly melon fruit weight. Growth is better compared to the previous season with the same weather. Fertilisers from Petrokimia Gresik provide the best solution,” said Suhartoyo, a melon farmer and Head of Klotok Village, Plumpang Subdistrict, Tuban Regency.
In the appreciation moment of this competition, a grand melon harvest from the demonstration plot was also held, along with the signing of a mural as a symbol of commitment to competitive melon cultivation development, a melon tumpeng parade, and wiwarah or sharing of 540 kilograms of melons to the community. The melons distributed to the public were the results of competition participants’ cultivation, with the quantity also matching Petrokimia Gresik’s current age.
“We ask for prayers and support from the community so that Petrokimia Gresik in its 54th year runs even smoother and continues to provide greater benefits for farmers and society,” Adit concluded.