PALMOILMAGAZINE, BANJARBARU – The South Kalimantan Province has underscored its dedication to expediting the development of sustainable palm oil plantations. However, achieving this goal requires collaborative efforts and active participation from the respective regents overseeing the areas where these plantations are situated. This collective endeavor aims to ensure the robust development of sustainable palm oil plantations across the province.
Representing the South Kalimantan Province, Regional Secretary Roy Rizali Anwar, through the Head of Livestock and Plantation Agency, Suparmi, highlighted that as of 2023, palm oil plantations in the province covered approximately 443,802 hectares, managed by 89 major private and government entities. Additionally, a notable portion, approximately 24%, was cultivated by smallholders, totaling around 107,582 hectares.
Furthermore, the province boasts 46 palm oil mills, yielding a fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production of about 5,340,501 tons annually, equivalent to approximately 1,168,372 tons of crude palm oil (CPO) per year. Complementing this, downstream industries have flourished, featuring three palm cooking oil factories and two biodiesel plants within the region. These developments are geared towards fostering societal benefits and championing environmental conservation through the framework of green economic development.
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Suparmi also mentioned that South Kalimantan published a Governor’s Regulation Number 013 / 2023 about Rencana Aksi Daerah Kelapa Sawit Berkelanjutan (RAD–KSB) South Kalimantan Province in 2022-2024. This is the realization of South Kalimantan governor’s commitment to realize the vision and missin of South Kalimantan as the gate of Indonesia Capital. One main mission is to encourage equal economic development in the province.
The latest progress showed that sustainable palm oil plantations keep developing as the way to improve plantation governance. Every palm oil industry has been recorded through Sistem Informasi Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit (SIPERIBUN) in the province. Until now there have been 71 companies or 80 percent of 89 companies recorded in SIPERIBUN, while the rests are still encouraged to report independently. In smallholders’ plantations, they have been recorded through Sistem Tata Kelola Data Basis (STDB).
The government keeps encouraging to accelerate the solution of too late palm oil plantation business in forest regions by corporates or smallholders. The collaboration between South Kalimantan Province and Indonesian Palm Oil Association keeps running in coordination, socializations, advocacy, development, and supervision.
Suparmi continued that fund optimization from Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency keeps being running to support palm oil plantation activity. The fund covers infrastructures, intensification (fertilizers and herbicides) production and productivity, human resources enhancement through trainings and education. (T2)
