Chinese Organic Fertilizer Producer Visits Riau Oil Palm Plantation, Explores Cooperation with APKASINDO

sawitsetara.co - KAMPAR — An organic fertilizer producer from Xiamen, China, Mata Eco Co., Ltd, conducted a field visit to an oil palm plantation owned by the Chairman of DPW APKASINDO Riau, H. Suher, in Kampar Regency.

Accompanied by the Head of International Relations of APKASINDO, who also serves as Secretary of the DPW APKASINDO Riau, Dr. (cn) Djono A. Burhan, S.Kom, MMgt (Int. Bus), CC, CL, the visit, which took place on Tuesday (February 3, 2026), marked an initial step in exploring international cooperation in the use of organic fertilizers to improve soil quality in smallholder oil palm plantations in Riau.

The visit followed a previous meeting between the delegation of Mata Eco Co., Ltd and the leadership of APKASINDO at the DPP APKASINDO representative office in Riau, Pekanbaru, which was also attended by the Chairman of DPP APKASINDO, Dr. Gulat Medali Emas Manurung, MP., C.IMA., C.APO.

On the sidelines of the visit, H. Suher explained that the Chinese company’s interest stemmed from the strong potential of oil palm plantations in Riau, as well as plans to introduce soil-conditioning fertilizer products aimed at improving soil quality.

“They have soil improvement products and want to see firsthand the condition of oil palm plantations in Riau. That’s why today we went directly to the field to observe the actual situation of the plantations,” said H. Suher.

According to him, this initial engagement is expected to open opportunities for cooperation between Indonesia and China, particularly in Riau Province. Going forward, the use of these organic fertilizers is expected to be expanded for broader adoption by smallholder oil palm farmers.

The planned cooperation will begin with a pilot trial of soil-conditioning fertilizers in Riau, followed by the possibility of a long-term partnership. The trial phase is considered crucial to ensure the compatibility of the products with local soil characteristics and oil palm cultivation conditions in Indonesia.

“Hopefully, this cooperation can be mutually beneficial,” H. Suher added.

He emphasized that improving soil pH and overall soil health is a key factor in sustainably increasing the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations. With healthier soil conditions, the effectiveness of fertilization practices currently applied by farmers is also expected to improve.

Meanwhile, representatives of Mata Eco Co., Ltd, Leslie and Rocky, stated that the visit to oil palm plantations in Riau provided a new experience for them. Leslie expressed his impression of the scale of the plantations, as well as the size of the oil palm trees and fresh fruit bunches observed in the field.

“This is our first time being in an oil palm plantation. It has been a very good experience for us,” Leslie said.

Leslie noted that the condition of oil palm plantations in Riau shows strong potential for further development through soil quality improvement approaches. The Mata Eco Co., Ltd delegation also conducted direct observations of soil structure and conditions around the oil palm trees as part of the initial assessment.

Through this visit, Mata Eco Co., Ltd expressed its interest in establishing cooperation with oil palm industry stakeholders in Indonesia, particularly in supporting more environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices.

“We hope to establish long-term cooperation with APKASINDO and return to Indonesia for future collaboration,” Rocky said.

As part of the broader context of this international cooperation initiative, APKASINDO has also been actively expanding its global network in the agricultural input sector. Together with the Indonesian Plantation Companies Association (GPPI), APKASINDO visited Yunnan Province, China, to attend The 2025 Green Pesticide Expo & Yunnan Agri-Inputs Trade Fair, held on December 18–19, 2025, at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The international exhibition was organized by the China Association of Pesticide Development & Application in collaboration with Xiamen Phoenix Creative Exhibition Service Co., Ltd, and served as a strategic forum to promote the development of green agriculture based on environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies.

At the event, APKASINDO was represented by Dr. (cn) Djono and Suhendrik, Vice Chairman for Business and Partnership Affairs. Both representatives explored advancements in agricultural technology, particularly the development of small- and medium-scale fertilizer plants based on renewable and energy-efficient systems, as part of efforts to strengthen the independence and sustainability of Indonesia’s smallholder plantation sector.