PALMOILMAGAZINE, PASER — The Indonesian government continues to strengthen its support for smallholder oil palm farmers through the official launch of a Technical Training on Harvest and Post-Harvest Management in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan. Held from July 28 to August 1, 2025, the program brought together 94 participants across three batches as part of the Oil Palm Plantation Human Resource Development Program (SDMPKS).
The training was jointly organized by the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), the Directorate General of Plantations at the Ministry of Agriculture (Ditjenbun), and PT Citra Widya Education (CWE) as the implementing partner.
In his opening remarks, PT CWE President Director Nugroho Kristono emphasized that the program is not merely a transfer of technical knowledge, but also a strategic effort to foster motivation and independence among farmers.
“Palm oil farmers are the driving force behind the nation’s fresh fruit bunch (FFB) productivity. This training reflects the government’s concrete commitment to empowering farmers and supporting national food and energy self-sufficiency,” he stated in an official release received by Palmoilmagazine.com on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
Over five days, participants engaged in classroom sessions, interactive discussions, and field practice through visits to an oil palm plantation owned by PT AJP. This hands-on approach is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of best practices in harvest and post-harvest handling.
Head of the Agriculture and Livestock Office of Paser Regency, Djoko Bawono, expressed strong appreciation for the initiative, noting that Paser is home to over 52,000 palm oil farmers working across 253,000 hectares. Despite this, yields remain below potential.
“This is exactly why this kind of training is so crucial. I also encourage farmers to actively participate in discussions and apply the knowledge directly in their fields,” said Djoko.
Paser Regency is also actively implementing strategic programs from BPDP, including the Smallholder Palm Oil Replanting Program (PSR). To date, 7,879 hectares have been replanted, with an additional target of at least 3,000 hectares for this year.
“The good news is that the PSR funding allocation has doubled—from IDR 30 million to IDR 60 million per hectare. This presents a major opportunity for farmers to rejuvenate and improve their plantations,” he added.
Djoko further noted that the regency is working to expand the number of training participants next year, with a target of 400 from Ditjenbun, and an ambition to scale up to 600–700 participants.
Through close collaboration between the central government, local authorities, and educational institutions, this training is expected to become a tangible step toward improving plantation productivity, increasing farmer prosperity, and reinforcing national food and energy security. (P2)
