IPNI and IJM Plantations Bhd Joint Training Course on Oil Palm 4R Nutrient Stewardship

August 3, 2017. Penang, Malaysia – The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), a global leader in plant nutrition, is dedicated to responsible nutrient management, with initiatives addressing the growing need for food, fuel, fiber and feed. Central to this endeavor is 4R Nutrient Stewardship, an innovative approach for fertilizer best management practices, essential to the sustainability of agricultural systems. The concept is simple - apply the right source of nutrient, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. The implementation, however, is knowledge-intensive and site-specific.

In Southeast Asia, IPNI has been engaged with the oil palm industry since the 1970s, supporting knowledge- and capacity-building with informational books and software. IPNI Southeast Asia Program (SEAP) strengthens this support now with training. In July 2017, for the first time, IPNI together with IJM Plantations Berhad, a leading Malaysian plantation company, organized a course on 4R Nutrient Stewardship. The course was offered at IJM’s estates in Sabah, Malaysia with its top class facilities, experienced staff and supportive senior management, all of which made it a great success.


The 4R Nutrient Stewardship course was led by IPNI's Senior Oil Palm Advisor CR Donough

The three and a half day course outlined the principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship, defining the four “rights” in the context of a successful oil palm operation. Real examples from IPNI SEAP field projects were used to demonstrate the comprehensive nutrient management approach in the classroom and in IJM’s field operations.

The course was conducted at full capacity with 34 participants from the oil palm industry and supporting sectors, representing various oil palm producing countries such as Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India. Despite the varied experience of participants with regards to oil palm, feedback was positive.

“This was a most valuable training program for us. This will be very useful to our Estate work. Thanks all of you.” – Chanaka Lakmal Wimalasena Mananage, Elpitiya Plantations Ltd.

“I learnt a lot from your program. Maybe we can conduct a similar kind of program in Sri Lanka in the future too. Thank you very much!!!” – Dimantha Samarasinghe, AEN Palm Oil Processing (Pvt.) Ltd.

“The course was meticulously planned, with rich course content and useful classroom exercise and wonderful field demonstrations.” – Dr. T. Satyanarayana, IPNI South Asia Program

IPNI SEAP is currently developing a similar course with a plantation partner in Indonesia, and will conduct more such training courses in the future.


About IPNI
The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) is a not-for-profit, science-based organization dedicated to the responsible management of plant nutrition for the benefit of people. Through cooperation and partnerships with respected institutions around the world, IPNI adds its strength to agronomic research, education, demonstrations, training, and other endeavors. Best management practices for nutrient stewardship encourage the concept of 4Rs - applying the right nutrient source, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. To learn more about IPNI, please visit: www.ipni.net

Contact
For enquiries, please contact
Monique Neoh, IPNI Training Program Executive
Email: mneoh@ipni.net