Business Transformation of PTPN VIII from Tea to Fruit

PTPN VIII optimistically would soon replace the tea plants resulting from the Dutch by planting fruits. As stated by the Board of Directors of PTPN VIII, Ir.Danu Rianto, MM, in his presentation at the plenary session entitled "Potential and Business Scale of Nationwide Flower and Fruit of Plantation and Garden Scales Potensi dan Bisnis Bunga dan Buah Nusantara Skala Perkebunan dan Kebun” which was held in the framework of Nationwide Flowers and Fruits Festival 2013 in cooperation with IPB, Ministry of Agriculture RI, and Ministry of State Entreprises RI, (17/5).

 

He said PTPN VIII would soon transform the business of PTPN VIII which at the moment was planted by tea to fruit plants. PTPN tea acreage was to reach an area of 25,512 Ha. Why it was done. Danu Rianto added that imported fruit market trend increased likewise for the domestic market trend i.e. around 11 percents more than sugar that was only 7-8 percents. PTPN VIII hoped that eventually it could become the producer of fruit and the largest exporter in the year of 2018.

 

Further he said the area of PTPN VIII tea plantation was in Indonesia of southern hemisphere so geographically it would not become the competitor with the fruit exporting country like Thailand for example, even it could fill in the blanks in Thailand. Because the harvest time in Indonesia in Thailand it was not harvest season, he said. 

 

The main focus of furit which would be planted by PTPN VIII was various kinds of durian like  Montong, Matahari, Channee and Perwira. Besides durian, PTPN VIII also planned to develop various types of mangosteen like Wanayasa, Puspahiang Raya, Marel, and also various banana like Cavendish, Barangan, Emas and various papaya like Calina, Merah Delima, Crsya. These fruits would be grown on the land around thousands of acres .

 

Meanwhile from the aspect of financing for flower and fruit businesses, Managing Director of Commercial & Business Banking of Bank Mandiri, Ir. Sunarsono, conveyed that Mandiri prepared the food sector credit about 80 percents, and the food here was including fruit. So this was a good opportunity for the agricultural sector. (dh)