PALMOILMAGAZINE, MEDAN – A total of 93 independent oil palm smallholders from Aceh Singkil Regency have successfully completed a technical oil palm cultivation training program under Indonesia’s Oil Palm Plantation Human Resources Development Program (SDM PKS), supported by the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Plantations (Ditjenbun). The initiative aims to strengthen farmers’ technical skills while improving the long-term productivity and sustainability of smallholder plantations.
Facilitated by PT Koompasia Enviro Institute, the training was held in Medan from July 6–11, 2026. Participants were divided into three batches of 31 farmers each, completing an intensive six-day course equivalent to 48 instructional hours.
The program combined classroom lectures, group discussions, case studies, and hands-on field practice at Verdant Bioscience, PT Timbang Deli Indonesia. Participants received practical instruction on land suitability assessment, the use of certified high-quality seedlings, crop maintenance, balanced fertilization, and effective pest and disease management.
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Representing the Head of the Aceh Provincial Agriculture and Plantation Office, Mukhlis, Head of the Infrastructure, Facilities, and Human Resources Extension Division, emphasized that improving farmers’ competencies is essential to enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesia’s smallholder palm oil sector.
“Strengthening farmers’ capacity is key to increasing productivity, improving farming efficiency, and enhancing the welfare of oil palm growers,” he said.
Henry Marpaung, Director of PT Koompasia Enviro Institute, said the training was designed to deliver practical benefits that participants could immediately apply upon returning to their plantations.
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“The knowledge gained should not remain in the classroom. It must be implemented in the field to improve plantation performance,” he said, noting that the sessions were led by experienced master trainers with extensive backgrounds in the plantation industry.
Meanwhile, Nirwana Angkat, Acting Head of the Aceh Singkil Agriculture and Plantation Office, welcomed the program, saying local farmers had long awaited the opportunity. He added that the regional government is already preparing additional participants for future training sessions.
Master Trainer Ronald Pasaribu explained that the curriculum was developed based on the real challenges faced by independent smallholders. In addition to technical knowledge, the program emphasized practical field experience proven to improve plantation productivity.
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Participants responded enthusiastically throughout the training. One farmer, Rahmad, said he gained valuable insights into more effective cultivation techniques and plans to implement them to increase yields on his plantation.
The SDM PKS program is one of the Indonesian government’s flagship initiatives, implemented through BPDP and Ditjenbun, to strengthen human capital in the palm oil sector. By equipping smallholders with better technical knowledge and sustainable farming practices, the program aims to create local champions who can help disseminate productive, efficient, and environmentally responsible oil palm cultivation across farming communities. (P2)
