PT SIM targets 3,500 ha abacá banana investment in East Seram

East Seram Regency Agriculture Office Head Sofyan Waraiya stated that PT Spice Island Maluku (PT SIM) is targeting an abacá banana investment in the regency of Maluku Province. He added that the land is located in the districts of Bula and West Bula.

"Of the accumulated total, around 3,500 hectares (ha) are targeted for abacá banana investment. Polygon mapping will be conducted to ensure that the core area is outside of community-owned land," Sofyan told reporters on Jan. 15, 2026.

He emphasized that this step is being taken to ensure that abacá banana development does not conflict with other plantation or food crops already managed by the local community. Sofyan revealed that the core land PT SIM is targeting to acquire encompass about 1,000 to 3,000 ha. A direct field visit and survey were conducted to follow up the selection on Jan. 14, 2025.

"The field visit involved all village heads, saniri (traditional cultural community authority), hamlet heads, and traditional leaders. The goal was to ensure that the land was not owned by individuals and that priority would be given to state or customary land," Sofyan explained.

The company is also preparing the required permits. Sofyan elucidated that, based on discussions with PT SIM Field Manager Eko, the company's investment activities are targeted to begin by June 2026.

"The most important document is how PT SIM can gain official land-use rights (HGU) on this land, including the preparation of around six to ten ha of land for [plant] nurseries," he explained.

In addition, Sofyan said that the plant nursery location will be selected with consideration to environmental carrying capacity, particularly the availability of water sources near the area.

"The nursery must be close to a water source. That's what we're still investigating and confirming," he concluded.