30 September 2020
PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) collaborates with Papua University’s Faculty of Agriculture (Faperta UNIPA) in conducting a series of research to utilize PTFI tailings land or ex-mining land in Mimika Regency so it can be developed as a productive area for food crops.
Pratita Puradyatmika as the General Supervisor for Highland Reclamation of PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika, on Thursday, said through a series of research and test on tailings land restoration, more than 140 types of plants had been planted on more than 1,000 hectares of reclaimed tailing land.
“The result of joint research showed PTFI’s tailing land can be utilized as to being used as a safe growing land for various types of food plants. Supported by fertilization and natural pest eradication, plants that grow have proven quality and are safe for consumption so that they can increase food independence in this area," said Pratita.
From the results of the trials conducted, he said, several types of agricultural and plantation crops could be cultivated on PTFI's tailings land, even some fruit trees such as pineapples, melons, dragon fruits, and mangoes were able to produce fruit with a sweeter taste than similar fruit that grows in other growing media.
Besides, the result of laboratory test conducted by PTFI and UNIPA showed the vegetables and fruit plants that are growing on PTFI's tailings land have levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), and Mercury (Hg) which is far below the maximum allowed for safe consumption as stipulated by the government under food and drug regulation Decree of the Director-General of Drug and Food Control No. 03725/B/SK/VII/89.
“We have ascertained that the fruit and vegetable crops thriving on PTFI tailings land are safe and suitable for human consumption. We hope to continue our research on PTFI tailings land management towards utilizing the land to offer an alternative for productive land development that will boost Mimika’s food self-reliance,” Pratita added.
To support the optimization of PTFI tailings land as a food production area, PTFI and UNIPA are also looking into the use of organic fertilizers to produce better quality crops.
Research results indicate that the use of organic fertilizers such as cattle and chicken manure on the crops cultivated on the PTFI tailings area produces better harvests compared with crops that are not applied organic fertilizers.
Dr. Sartji Taberima, M.Si, a Soil Researcher at the Faperta UNIPA, who studied the utilization of various organic fertilizers stated based on the result of a research conducted on cacao plants indicate the application of organic fertilizers as ameliorants can suppress the intake of heavy metals in cacao plant tissue and will improve soil fertility.
“Therefore, the use of natural methods on tailings land as a plant media can increase supplies of essential nutrients, thereby positively impact the quality of the cacao plants and fruit. Moreover, the organic fertilizers used were able to reduce intake of the metals iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) in the plants,” she said.
Besides developing the utilization of organic fertilizer to improve plant productivity, PTFI and UNIPA also are studying the potential utilization of plants as a natural pesticide.
Out of 227 local plant species observed and identified, 14 plant species were found to be capable of acting as natural pesticides, by suppressing the appetites of pests, repelling them, deterring their activity and development, and killing them and thus decreasing their capacity to disrupt plant growth.
“The use of natural pesticides on crops is an excellent choice as they degrade rapidly, have a low toxicity level, and are not toxic and destructive to the crops. Natural pesticides are also cost-efficient as they are easy to produce,” said Ir. Maria J. Sadsoeitoeboen, M.Si, a Biologist at the FMIPA UNIPA who is also involved in the research.
Since 1998, PTFI with various universities such as UNIPA, Cendrawasih University, Bogor Institute of Agricultural, Bandung Institute of Technology, Sriwijaya University, and Lambung Mangkurat University, have continuously conducted various environmental studies.
The research was conducted as PTFI’s efforts to minimize the impact of the company's operations on the environment, accelerate environmental restoration on ex-operational land, and optimize the company's added value to the environment and society through efforts to conserve biodiversity and increase food and fishery productions in Mimika.
"We hope the collaboration between PTFI and the world of education can contribute to the advancement of science, as well as provide direct benefits to the communities around the company's work area," said Pratita.
Kami menghimbau para pencari kerja untuk berhati-hati dan mewaspadai beragam modus penipuan perekrutan yang mengatasnamakan PT Freeport Indonesia. Dalam setiap proses rekrutmen dan penerimaan karyawan, PT Freeport Indonesia maupun konsultan rekruitmennya tidak memungut biaya apapun.
Untuk melihat lowongan, silakan akses melalui link berikut: ptfi e-recruitment
Untuk melihat informasi magang, silakan akses melalui link berikut: Internship Program
