PTPN IV PalmCo Encourages Food Security Through Palm Oil-Rice Intercropping Patterns

Jakarta – Efforts to strengthen national food security are now spreading to the middle of oil palm plantations. PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) IV PalmCo, a subsidiary of PTPN III (Persero) Plantation Holding, uses people’s oil palm rejuvenation land to plant upland rice. This program has entered the harvest stage in two regions, Aceh and Jambi, in October 2025.

This step is part of PTPN’s (TAMPAN) Rice Planting strategy, namely planting rice between young, immature oil palm plants. This pattern not only aims to optimize land, but also opens up new economic opportunities for communities around the plantation.

“The transformation we are carrying out is not solely about digitalization or business efficiency. We want to have a social impact on the community around the plantation. Upland rice among young oil palms has been proven to support food security,” said the President Director of PTPN IV PalmCo, Jatmiko K. Santosa, in Jakarta, Friday (24/10/2025).

PalmCo noted that until mid-October, upland rice intercropping had been implemented in seven PalmCo work regions, including North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, Aceh, West Kalimantan and South Sumatra. The total land area reaches more than 500 hectares, both through the People’s Palm Oil Rejuvenation (PSR) program, intercropping, and Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) activities.

First Harvest in Aceh and Jambi

The first harvest was carried out on Al Muslim University (Umuslim) Bireuen, Aceh, covering an area of ​​30 hectares in early October. The upland rice plants on this land are the result of collaboration between PalmCo and the Bireuen Regency Government and the UMuslim academic community.

Chancellor of Muslim Ulum, Dr. Marwan said the harvest results showed that upland rice was able to adapt well to the dry soil of the Bireuen area. “The results are promising. This is not just academic research, but also a real contribution to the surrounding community,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi, harvesting was carried out last May in the Jaya Makmur Farmers Group Association (Gapoktan) area covering an area of ​​5 hectares. From this land, a production of around 10 tons of grain was obtained, with an average productivity of 2 tons per hectare.

Palm Oil and Food Synergy

The upland rice intercropping program is one of the efforts of state-owned plantation companies to develop palm oil-food integration. This pattern is also in line with the government’s policy direction to strengthen national food security as stated in the Asta Cita of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.

Deputy Chairman of RSI and Director of Institutional Relations at PTPN IV PalmCo, Irwan Warinangin, said that the TAMPAN program was carried out through cross-sector synergy, including support from the Ministry of Agriculture. “Planting upland rice in the PSR area is a real form of land optimization and part of our commitment to food sovereignty,” he said.

Apart from programs in Aceh and Jambi, PalmCo also distributed 3.7 tons of upland rice seeds through TJSL for 110 hectares of land in Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra. The assistance was handed over together with the local Regency Government and elements of the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda).

Towards the Food Barn in the Middle of the Plantation

It is hoped that upland rice planted between immature oil palm plantations will become a model of sustainable integrated agriculture. Apart from optimizing land use, this system provides additional income for farmers and communities around the plantation.

This step, according to agricultural observer from Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, Iskandar Zulkarnain, reflects a paradigm shift in the plantation sector. “Palm is no longer just an export commodity, but also a space for food diversification. If developed consistently, this could become a new food storage model in the region,” he said.

Through the upland rice intercropping program, PTPN IV PalmCo shows that oil palm plantations are not always synonymous with monoculture. From between the young oil palm trunks, new hope grows for Indonesia’s food sovereignty.