Replanting Program of Rubber Tree is constrained in Meranti

News24xx.com -SELATPANJANG- Replanting program or rejuvination is one of the solution of goverment to help the people especially the farmers. But not all the farmers want their garden to be rejuvenated. 

In Meranti Islands Regency for example, many rubber farmers don't want their plants tobe changed with the new ones. The reason is because since it was planted untill the harvest time, they do not have income. 

"In general our farmers dont' want their dozens or even hudreds-years-old-plants to be replanted. Especially for those who just rely on the rubber trees. Whereas the production has been decreased sharply. The Head of Plantations and Horticulture Department of Meranti, Tengku Efendi said.

According to him from totally 20,701 hectares of rubber plantations in Meranti, 80 percents of them should be rejuvenated. It's not balanced with the number of production. 

"It still become problem to maximize the rejuvenation program and it of course needs attention and help from all head of  village and Subdistrict. 

In addition, he will also try to run replanting program and horticulture product program at once to give the solution to the farmer to keep getting income besides rubber plantations. 

"So all groups of farmers which get replanting program will also get horticulture plant that the harvest time is only 3 until 4 months. While wat for rubber seeds grow up, the farmers keep getting income form hlticulture products like galangal, ginger etc. Tengku Efendi said. 

Head of Plantations Division Syafril mentioned the replanting program is allocated by the central goverment every year including extension program. 

"However the extension program runs well while the rejuvination program does'nt because of the farmers' rejection. Slowly but sure we keep motivating them to rejuvinate their plants to get maximum results. he added***