PALMOILMAGAZINE, PONTIANAK – Ardi Praptono, Director of Palm Oil and Various Palms at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Directorate General of Plantations, emphasized the vital role smallholders play in Indonesia’s national economy. He highlighted that the agricultural sector, particularly the plantation subsector, remains a key economic driver, especially when facing challenges like the pandemic.
“During the pandemic, the agricultural sector, especially palm oil plantations, played a crucial role in maintaining national economic stability. However, we still face issues such as climate change, suboptimal cultivation techniques, and limited use of high-quality seeds,” Ardi stated during the 4th Indonesian Palm Oil Smallholder Conference & Expo (IPOSC) 2024, attended by around 600 smallholders from various regions of Indonesia.
He thought the smallholders mastered about 42% of the total palm oil plantations nationally. The numbers made them as the big contributor for palm oil production in this country. “The smallholders’ plantations would play the key in the secor but their plantation productivity was far from the optimal potential. That is why we would encourage them to plant superior seeds,” he said as Palmoilmagazine.com quoted, Thursday (19/9/2024) di Pontianak.
Also Read: 4th IPOSC: Collaboration, Innovation, and Sustainability Key to Palm Oil Growth in West Kalimantan
In the conference, he also said about smallholders replanting program that Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (PO PFMA) supported the fund. Through the program, the government would provide superior seeds helps and supporting infrastructures. “We hope the smallholders would take advantages on the program maximally. We would develop the smallholders to get SRP proposals and helps to increase theirs,” he said.
Besides, Ardi also emphasized it would be significant to get synergy among the smallholders, the government, and related parties to make palm oil go forward. “This conference should not be the place to share information only but also to reinforce partnership. We would like the smallholders in Indonesia go forward and better in the future,” he said.
The conference was ended by yelling together where every participant lifted their hands and said, “Sawit Rakyat Indonesia Jaya, Jaya, Kebun Sawit Sejahtera!”
With the government’s support through many programs and the strong commitment of the smallholders, smallholder palm oil plantations should be developing and contributing more to the economy nationally. (P2)
