A Closer Look at Oil Palm Seedling Practices During a Dami Mas Nursery Visit
Understanding oil palm cultivation often becomes much easier when agricultural practices can be observed directly in the field. From the early care of seedlings and nursery management to fertilisation, crop maintenance, and the management of mature producing palms, firsthand field experiences can provide valuable lessons that are difficult to gain through theory alone.
This was the focus of this year’s Dami Mas nursery visits, which brought together approximately 70 participants from across Indonesia’s oil palm industry. The participants represented a broad range of plantation companies, nursery operators, and farmers from Riau, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Lampung, and West Kalimantan.
The field-based programme was organised to give participants an opportunity to see oil palm seedling and plantation management practices directly, exchange experiences with other industry participants, and discuss technical questions with experts and fellow growers.
As part of the programme, PT Dami Mas Sejahtera (Dami Mas), a subsidiary of Golden Agri-Resources, welcomed participants to two nursery locations. The group visited the Rama-Rama Nursery in Kampar Regency, Riau, as well as the Sungai Cantung Nursery in South Kalimantan.
Dami Mas is one of Indonesia’s producers of Dura x Pisifera (DxP) oil palm seeds. Its DxP seeds are developed with characteristics intended to support higher oil productivity and earlier harvesting, both of which are important considerations for plantation companies and independent oil palm farmers seeking productive planting material.
Seeing Nursery Practices Firsthand
The nursery visits allowed participants to examine the different stages involved in preparing oil palm seedlings before they are eventually planted in the field. The programme covered practical aspects of seedling cultivation, including fertilisation and general nursery management.
For growers and nursery operators, observing these activities provided an opportunity to compare what they saw with their own approaches. Farmers could also consider how the practices demonstrated during the visit might be adapted to their individual plantation conditions.
The discussions were particularly valuable because the participants came from different backgrounds and areas of the oil palm industry. Nursery operators approached the visit with an emphasis on seedling development and cultivation, while farmers considered the lessons from the perspective of their own plantations. Plantation company representatives, meanwhile, had the opportunity to benchmark their existing approaches against practices observed at the Dami Mas facilities.
The programme therefore served not simply as a nursery tour, but as a platform for knowledge sharing and technical discussion among different groups involved in oil palm production.
For Yuniva Kurnia, a grower from Belilas, Indragiri Hulu, Riau, the experience offered knowledge that she could potentially share with farmers in her network.
“At my nursery, Dami Mas is a favourite variety and is in high demand among farmers. I am very grateful to have joined this tour and learned so much. I hope to use what I have learned to help educate other farmers as well,” Yuniva said.
Her comments highlight the importance of knowledge transfer within the agricultural sector. Improvements in cultivation practices can have a wider impact when growers share their experiences and apply lessons from field demonstrations in their own operations.
Connecting Nursery Management with Field Performance
The Dami Mas visits also extended beyond nursery activities. Participants were introduced to the application of agronomic practices in established plantations, including fertilisation and crop management.
This broader perspective helped participants understand that the performance potential of planting material is connected to management practices throughout the life of an oil palm crop. Good-quality seeds are an important starting point, but achieving productive results also requires appropriate care and agronomic management after seedlings leave the nursery.
Participants were able to observe mature palms that had reached the producing stage, providing a practical connection between the early stages of seedling cultivation and later plantation performance.
The opportunity to see mature palms was particularly relevant for existing Dami Mas customers, who could use the visit to strengthen their understanding of management practices after planting. At the same time, prospective customers could gain a clearer picture of the journey from seed production and nursery development to field establishment and mature production.
The event also created an opportunity for Dami Mas to engage directly with existing customers while introducing its planting material and cultivation approach to potential new customers.
Farmer Experience Highlights Importance of Management
Among the participants was Samsuir from Indragiri Hulu, Riau, who has been using Dami Mas seeds since 2017. His experience provided another perspective on the importance of combining planting material with consistent plantation management.
“I have been using Dami Mas seeds since 2017 and the results have been very satisfying. Our 2017 planting is now producing around 37 tonnes per month across nine hectares. Fertilisation is also something that needs to be continuously managed,” he said.
His experience illustrates the long-term nature of oil palm cultivation. Decisions made during the establishment stage can influence plantation performance for many years, while ongoing agronomic practices remain essential as palms mature and begin producing.
Fertilisation, in particular, requires continuous attention. Nutrient management needs to be considered as part of a broader plantation management strategy, alongside other factors that influence crop health and productivity.
Strengthening Relationships Through Knowledge Sharing
According to Saistyo Agi Hendiwiyarto, Commercial Department Head at Golden Agri-Resources, the relationship between a seed producer and its customers extends beyond the point when seeds are delivered.
Activities such as field visits can help create opportunities for farmers, nursery operators, and plantation companies to communicate directly, exchange practical experiences, and discuss challenges encountered in different production environments.
“Through activities such as these nursery visits, we want to continue creating opportunities for farmers, nursery operators, and plantation companies to learn directly from the field, exchange experiences, and take home practices that are relevant to their own plantations,” Agi explained.
This approach reflects the importance of combining agricultural products with technical knowledge and ongoing engagement. For growers, access to appropriate planting material is only one component of successful plantation development. Understanding how to manage that material effectively throughout its growth cycle is equally important.
Supporting More Productive Oil Palm Plantations
Selecting suitable, high-quality planting material is widely recognised as an important first step in establishing an oil palm plantation. However, the potential of the seeds needs to be supported through appropriate agronomic practices at every stage, beginning with nursery management and continuing through field establishment and mature production.
The Dami Mas nursery visits provided participants with an opportunity to see this process as a connected production cycle. By observing nursery operations alongside mature plantations, participants could better understand how early-stage practices relate to longer-term crop management.
The event also demonstrated the value of bringing different industry stakeholders together. Farmers, nursery operators, plantation companies, and seed producers can each contribute practical knowledge based on their own experiences and operating environments.
For Dami Mas, maintaining this type of engagement represents an ongoing effort to build relationships with customers and support knowledge exchange across the oil palm sector. Field visits provide a practical environment where participants can ask questions, compare approaches, and identify lessons that may be relevant to their own operations.
As oil palm producers continue to focus on productivity and efficient plantation management, opportunities for practical learning and experience sharing can play an important role. By combining quality planting material with sound nursery practices, appropriate fertilisation, and effective long-term agronomic management, growers can work toward establishing healthier and more productive plantations.
Through continued field-based learning and collaboration, Dami Mas aims to help farmers, nursery operators, and plantation companies gain practical insights that can be adapted to their specific conditions and contribute to better plantation management and productivity over the long term.
Source Link:https://www.golden-agri.com/
