DIV BTP Study Program Examines Peatland Utilization Based on Plantation Crops

The Department of Plantation Product Management, specifically the DIV Plantation Crop Cultivation Study Program of Politeknik Negeri Ketapang (Ketapang State Polytechnic), held a public lecture on watershed, peat soil, and tidal land management on Monday, 30 November 2020, under the theme “Peatland Utilization Based on Plantation Crops” with 171 registered participants. This webinar was opened by the Vice Director for Academic Affairs of Politeknik Negeri Ketapang, Mr. Adha Panca Wardanu, S.TP., MP. In his welcoming remarks for the public lecture, the Vice Director for Academic Affairs expressed his hope that the material presented by the speaker would broaden the participants' knowledge and insights, especially regarding peatland management and utilization.

Ketapang Regency is one of the regions with extensive peatlands that can be utilized for plantation areas, especially oil palm plantations. With the presence of the oil palm plantation industry in Ketapang Regency, the link and match between higher education and industry can be synergized by improving the development of competent human resources so that the oil palm plantation industry in Ketapang Regency can absorb graduates from Politeknik Negeri Ketapang, particularly from the DIV Plantation Crop Cultivation Study Program. The speaker for the public lecture, Dr. Iwan Sasli, S.P., M.Si from the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Tanjungpura Pontianak, concluded in the presentation delivered that peatland management requires not only attention to government regulations but, most importantly, the study of peat soil characteristics to determine cultivation techniques and the types of crop commodities to be developed for sustainable cultivation. Essential aspects to consider when utilizing peatlands for plantation crops include improving peat maturity and proper maintenance in managing the crops.