Center for Tropical Animal Studies (Centras) IPB University Joins Field Visit to SISKA Best Practice Site

To increase the involvement of universities as drivers of the Oil Palm Cattle Integration System (SISKA), the Center for Tropical Animal Studies (Centras) IPB University conducted a field visit to PT Simbiosis Karya Agroindustri (SISKA Ranch) in Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan.

PT Simbiosis Karya Agroindustri is the current SISKA best practice location. The visit was also carried out to formulate a more targeted SISKA innovation development target and strengthen the SISKA model of core-plasma partnership through active support from all relevant parties.

Chairman of Centras IPB University, Prof Nahrowi, said that through this series of field visit agendas, participants gained an understanding of SISKA cattle feed management and rotational grazing, including the introduction of portable electric fence tools.

Not only that, they were also exposed to human resource management (SISKA stockmans), recognizing SISKA cattle colonies, the process of making palm by-products into SISKAFEED and PALMOFEED, to other interesting issues about SISKA.

The agenda continued with the SISKA Collaborative Research and Dissemination (SCRD) discussion. The leaders of the faculty of animal husbandry at various universities in Indonesia were involved. IPB University’s Palm Oil Study Center and the Indonesian National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) also attended this agenda.

“Hopefully, this series of agendas can encourage harmonization of all parties involved to jointly support the development of the SISKA model and accommodate innovations related to SISKA to support sustainable palm oil plantations,” said Prof Nahrowi. (*/Rz) (IAAS/TNY)