Bogor, West Java. Plantation company Astra Agro Lestari claims it has developed its own technology to boost the productivity of its oil palm plantations and counter the short supply of modern plantation tools and machineries in Indonesia.
The company, a subsidiary of Astra International, has devised at least three applications and tools to manage thousands of its employees and keep their machineries running.
Astra Agro Lestari president director Santosa said the tools and applications, all of which have been developed in-house, have been performing efficiently in the field.
The first of those is called Amanda, an acronym for Aplikasi Mandor Astra Agro (Astra Argo Foremen’s Application), an electronic assistant for field supervisors. This tool enables them to track the location of thousands of plantation workers.
The second is Dinda, or Daily Indicator of Astra Agro. This application collects daily data on many aspects of a plantation, which can then be used to improve its daily operations.
The last one is called Melli, or Mill Excellence, which provides quick and accurate data on palm oil mills. This tool helps mill managers make decisions and analyses to improve mill operations, Santosa said.
“We need all of these tools to stay competitive in the long run,” Santoso said in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.
“We’re an innovative company that makes judicious use of technology. Digital technology gives us better control [of our businesses] and enables more efficient operations,” Santosa said.
Santosa added the company aims to become a “world class” palm oil producer by implementing new technology and conducting extensive research.
Currently, Astra Agro Lestari is researching ways to produce prime seeds that can grow in different types of soil and under harsh weather.
“If we succeed, we’d be able to produce prime seeds that can withstand weather and soil conditions in different locations, including Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi,” Santosa said.
Source: Jakarta Globe
