Success in the implementation of the program would strengthen and improve the quality of East Kalimantans economy, head of the provincial plantation office Ujang Rachmad said here on Sunday.
Through its regional Mid Term Development Plan (RPJMD) East Kalimantan sets its target of 1 million hectares for the second phase to be implemented in 2018, Ujang said.
Currently the province has 1.19 oil palm plantations with production of 14.5 million tons of FFB per year, he said.
The production is equivalent to 3.2 million tons of crude palm oil (CPO) and the plantations provide jobs for 306,644 workers.
Meanwhile, there are 75 units of palm oil factories with an installed processing capacity of 4,170 tons of FFB per hour and capacity utilization of 3,775 tons per hour.
The processing plants for the production of 14.5 million tons of FFB per year are found in five regencies - Paser, Penajam Paser Utara, Kutai Timur, Berau and Kutai Kartanegara.
"This year, East Kalimantan plans to build 17 more units of palm oil processing factories bringing the total number of plants to 92 units in the region, Ujang Rachmad said.
He said East Kalimantan would continue to consider developing and expanding plantations of other potential commodities such as rubber.
He said the province already has 115,815 hectares of rubber plantations with production of 66,096 tons a year providing 64,869 jobs.
East Kalimantan also considers developing cacao plantations, which already reach 8,231 hectares with annual production of 4,011 tons and pepper plantations now reaching 9,073 hectares with an annual production of 4,772 tons.
"The province also has coconut plantation totaling 22,903 hectares with an annual production of 10,131 tons," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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