The Haminjon Farmers Are Waiting For The Success Of Haminjon Cultivation

Baik Situmorang is cleaning the Haminjon tree trunk at his own land.

TELE – The farmers are waiting for the success of haminjon cultivation so that it can be fully accepted It was signalled by one of haminjon farmer, Ama Santa Situmorang, 47, on Friday morning conversation, when asked about her opinion and also the farmers attitude generally – towards the haminjon cultivation inside or outside the forest conservation and if can be planted at community land or field.

“The cultivation idea is good. But we, the farmers until now still believe the natural haminjon which is grow at the forest are better. It will be different matter if in the future for reality the cultivation haminjon is really better (superior). It must be proved by its sap” she said. We will wait” she added Ama Santa is one of 80 farmers that take the natural plant sap from TobaPup’s ‘HTI’ ( Forest Plantation Industry) concession at Tele sector (include the 4 administration districts location : Humbahas, Samosir, Dairi, West Pakpahan.

At Hutagalung village, Pollung sub-district, Samosir – known as Pea Poring – Ama Santa has around 1.500 haminjon, which are spread around 5 hectare, half of it are very old already, around 15 years old, so the productivity has been came down. Every tree nowdays just produce around 2 ons of sap from 8 holes of ‘takik-an’ every harvest time (annually). “Those productivities had been really came down.” said Ama Santa’s brothers, Baik Situmorang, 39, who has same yard in the other location.

Even though it has been in the same concession, Ama Santa’s haminjon “plantation” has been cultivated because the company has given their commitment not to cut down those sap producer plant.

The farmers usually thought that the reduction of haminjon sap productivity has connection with the TobaPulp’s HTI presence by planting the eucalyptus tree which has rich fiber and a quick grower (because of that can be quickly harvested, around 5-6 month). But Ama Santa, has the same thought, the reduction of haminjon productivity are also affected by no farmer generation who some of the farmer children whom are success at education field chose the other profession such as midwife, nurse, businessman, ‘PNS’ and the other profession in the city. The other cause is, there aren’t any haminjon replanting because there aren’t any young farmer.

Specially to find Haminjon regeneration solution, TobaPulp advice the cultivation based on planting technology which involve the community, together with the Aeknauli forestry (‘BPK-Balai Penelitian Kehutanan’), near Perapat city.

Nowdays by clone technology, the haminjon seeds which have the same quality as the selected parent at the natural forest and about 1.500 seed which are 6 moth old with 1k30cm height are located at TobaPulp central Nursery at Parmaksian, Tobasamosir, now are ready to be planted at concession or at the other place. “ The launching may be at December,” said TobaPulp director, Juanda Panjaitan.

All parties, including the company or the farmer communities hope that the planting of the haminjon clone seed at inside or outside concession will be followed by the good news development, such as can be grow well ( of course with the fertilization and care), can grow quickly and can get the good quality sap and better that the ‘tombak’ hamijon. “ The most important is the prove. If later it is working, the whole farmers will be gladly welcome”, said Ama Santa.