Oil palm plantation in Sumatra : Mission to Bakrie from 13th February to 1st March 2006

Generally speaking, cultural practices at BSP are good at the three sites visited. A few particular points need to be highlighted per site: - existence of Ganoderma at Kisaran, at a low incidence at the moment which is not affecting productivity, - uncertainty about the calculation of the areas planted at Sungei Aur, checking under way, - drainage in low-lying zones being improved at Air Balam. At the Air Balam plantation in West Sumatra, and the plantation at Agrowiyana in Jambi, worth pointing out is the excellent vegetative growth and very good yields at the beginning of the productive phase of the young palms planted in the low zone with a layer of organic soil one to two metres thick over an alluvial substrate; provided the water table in those plots is effectively controlled at as stable a level as possible. Mineral fertilization at all the sites seems to be very generous, in view of the appearance of the oil palms (few visible mineral deficiencies) and the leaf nutrient contents recorded in previous years. There will most probably be some substantial savings to be made on this aspect, as fertilization amounts to a large share of total production costs. A reduction of around 10% in the total quantity of fertilizers applied would lead to savings of several hundred thousand US dollars per year, at constant oil palm yields. Based on past yields, on the current appearance of the palms in the plots inspected, and based on discussions with the Managers, it has been possible to estimate production forecasts for the next five years (2006/2010): - At Kisaran, CIRAD forecasts (153 000 tonnes FFB/year on average) are slightly higher than those by Bakrie (140 000 tonnes FFB/year on average) and the difference diminishes for the CPO tonnage (33 900 tonnes as opposed to 33 500 tonnes). - At Pasaman, CIRAD forecasts (161 000 tonnes FFB/year on average) are lower than those by Bakrie (190 000 tonnes FFB/year on average), i.e. for CPO: 36 700 tonnes as opposed to 45 700 tonnes. - At Agrowiyana, CIRAD forecasts (113 000 tonnes FFB/year on average) are slightly higher than those by Bakrie (100 000 tonnes FFB/year on average), i.e. for CPO: 26 000 tonnes as opposed to 24 100 tonnes. Overall at the 3 sites, an estimation was obtained of 427 000 tonnes FFB/year between 2006 and 2010, as opposed to 430 000 tonnes FFB/year estimated by Bakrie, similar figures