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Hot on Hydro Complex
(2004-02-23) Tan Hien Seng has been farming for nearly 30 years and doesn't take anything for granted - especially what he puts on his crops. Tan - an Indonesian priest from a local Pentecostal Church - has been growing cash crops, mainly chili and onion, since 1973. Before trusting his livelihood to one brand of fertilizer, he ran a series of tests. Years of experience have taught Tan the value of conducting personal field trials to substantiate published information on the effectiveness of various fertilizers. “I rent my land,” he explains. “This season, I have planted chili on 25 hectares. In fact, we just started harvesting chili a week ago. After chili and onions, the land is often planted with rice before switching back... “Before applying Hydro Complex to the field, I tested it on a chili plant in my garden. I was convinced Hydro Complex was the right fertilizer when I saw how well the plant performed. I have been using it now for three years. In the past, I had to blend several types of fertilizers from different companies, but the result was unreliable.” The right thing Cash crop cultivation is one of the most important economic drivers in Indonesia, accounting for almost 25 percent of the country’s arable land. The most profitable cash crops include potato, chili, tomato, onion and other vegetables. The key to successfully farming cash crops is applying the right fertilizer, Tan asserts. Very often, the investment needed to grow cash crops is high. Farmers demand high yields to get fast returns on their investments. Many prefer premium, reputable and reliable imported fertilizers like Hydro Complex 12-11-18 (S) , as well as calcium nitrate and NPK, from Yara. Stronger plants “I noticed that the stalk of the chili becomes very tough after applying Hydro Complex from Yara. Stronger stalks mean less aborted flowers and fruits. I am very pleased to have chosen Hydro Complex ,” says Tan. The yield of chili is so high this season that the 350 laborers Tan hired to harvest the crop daily are not enough. Higher yield – higher return “Hydro Complex has increased my yield by up to 30 percent,” says a smiling Tan. “I used to harvest about 11 to12 tonnes per hectare and can now get 15 tonnes. The higher the yield, the better it is for us, since the chili’s price fluctuates during the season.” Tan’s chili crop is sold to a food processing factory in Jakarta for chili sauce. Tan points out that one of his friends invested more than him because he chose to plant a hybrid chili requiring extra nursery care. His friend’s yield, however, is no greater than his. “As for me, there is no need to spend more for hybrid seeds. Growing local seeds is easier and cheaper. The key lies in applying the right fertilizer. And that’s Hydro Complex 12-11-18(S) from Yara ,” says Tan.
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Hot on Hydro Complex
