North Sumatera Enhances Rubber Plant Intensification

Meanwhile, if replanting is carried out immediately, there is. Farmers are worried about losing their livelihoods. Especially in several central areas, the farmers rely only on income from rubber.

"Rubber plant intensification is one of the ways to increase production. Because with intensification, the amount of rubber can be harvested is higher, the harvesting time is earlier and the peak harvest period is longer. And the production age of the rubber is longer. That way, there will be guaranteed production increases without harming the farmers," said the Head of the North Sumatra Plantation Office, Herawati, Tuesday (8/23).

The rubber plants in North Sumatra that need intensification are quite extensive. The locations are in rubber centers such as Labuhan Batu, South Labuhan Batu, North Labuhan Batu, Mandailing Natal (Madina), Serdang Bedagai, Deliserdang and several other areas in North Sumatra.

North Sumatra is considered to still be able to boost rubber production. Based on data from the North Sumatra Plantation Office, North Sumatra's rubber 560,263.66 tons, with a land area of 589,055.15 hectares. Out of that number, the people's plantation covers an area of 395,017 hectares with a production of 332,673.82 tons.

Then the PTPN covers an area of 38,501.15 hectares and produces 36,169.84 tons. Furthermore, it has been recorded that the National Private Plantation (PBSN) covers an area of 102,238 hectares with a production of 119,864 tons and the Foreign Private Plantation (PBSA) covers an area of 53,299 hectares and produces 71,556 tons.

Herawati said the plantation sub-sector, including rubber, has a significant contribution to the economy of North Sumatra, in addition to palm oil, coffee, coconut, cocoa and others. So besides achieving the production target, intensification is also expected to improve the quality of rubber commodities. "Of course intensification is expected to be carried out properly. Because this is also an effort to increase the income of rubber farmers," she said. (elvidaris simamora)

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