The Pelalawan Indonesian Institute of Plantation Technology (ITP2I) has introduced oil palm pollen technology innovation to help increase the productivity of smallholder palm oil plantations in Pelalawan Regency. This concrete step was realized through the Community Service (PkM) program targeting local independent palm oil smallholders.
The program, titled "increasing Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) productivity through assisted pollination technology," successfully secured funding from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) for the Year 2026. A total of 30 independent farmers were actively involved in the training initiated by the ITP2I academic team.
Vice Rector I of ITP2I and Head of the Service Team, Salmiyati, M.Pd., Ph.D., explained that the productivity of smallholder-owned palm oil land is often below its maximum potential. The main issue lies in the low percentage of fruit set due to the failure of natural pollination on female flowers.
To overcome this obstacle, the service team, which also includes lecturers Yudia Azmi and Arief Fazlul Rahman, introduced pollen processing technology. Farmers were taught how to collect quality pollen, filter it using a 14-mesh sieve, and store it in glass bottles at an extreme temperature of minus 23 degrees Celsius to maintain its viability before direct application to female flowers.
Beyond theory, the farmers were also engaged in interactive discussions regarding the role of the pollinator insect Elaeidobius kamerunicus and the importance of minimizing chemical pesticides to preserve the plantation ecosystem. The implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP) was also emphasized to ensure that palm oil cultivation is more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
This activity also involved students from the ITP2I Agrotechnology Study Program as field facilitators. This collaboration between academics and farmers is expected to accelerate the adoption of appropriate technology, strengthen the farmers' economy, and drive the independence of the national palm oil plantation sector.
