PTPN IV PalmCo Launches 1,000-Hectare Soybean Pilot Project

Jakarta (ANTARA) - PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) IV PalmCo has launched a 1,000-hectare soybean planting pilot project within oil palm replanting areas as part of an effort to increase national soybean production.

The President Director of PTPN IV PalmCo, Jatmiko K Santosa, stated that the project is a follow-up to a government mandate to support the strengthening of food security, specifically for the soybean commodity.

“Alhamdulillah, PTPN IV has carried out the initial planting of the soybean pilot project. This is our follow-up to the President’s direction through the Minister of Agriculture to increase national production and reduce soybean imports,” Jatmiko said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The initial planting took place on Friday (28/8) and was centred at the Adolina Estate, Regional II of PTPN IV PalmCo, in Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra, and was connected online to similar activities in several of the company’s operational areas.

“We are optimising replanting areas or palm oil conversion areas. Therefore, for approximately six months before the oil palm is replanted, we will plant soybeans first,” Jatmiko explained.

He noted that the results of the pilot project will serve as a consideration before expanding soybean cultivation to larger areas, while maintaining a principle of investment prudence.

“Since we have never planted soybeans before, we are preparing a 1,000-hectare pilot project first. In accordance with the direction from Danantara, if this succeeds and demonstrates feasibility across various aspects, God willing, it will be continued with a more massive scale so that the government’s hope to increase production and reduce soybean imports can be realised,” he added.