Report of mission to the PT MEDCO oil palm plantations in Central Kalimantan (Indonesia) from 21st to 26th July 2003

In both Sukamandang and Kumai sites, oil palms have suffered from neglect during the past years, particulaly from late planting and lack of fertilization, and plantation on generally poor to very poor soils. As a result present state is highly variable, but in general retarded growth and heterogeneous production. The first measure to take is to undertake a general leaf analysis in order to evaluate the nutritional status of the palms, allowing the calculation of rehabilitation doses of fertilizer to be applied from year 2004 onwards. Later on, a standard, effective system of management of mineral nutrition will be set up, based on this first diagnosis. Improvement of track network is recommended in order to assure unable the access to fields and transportation of FFB to the mill round the year. Lastly, organization chart has to be revisited, principally the coordination between the financial management in Jakarta and the field management in Kalimantan Tengah, so that continuity in the availability of products on site is guaranteed