PALMOILMAGAZINE, PALU – A total of 155 smallholder oil palm farmers from North Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, participated in a Technical Oil Palm Cultivation Training Program held at Aston Palu Hotel on July 6–11, 2026.
The capacity-building program was part of the 2026 Human Resource Development Program for the Palm Oil Plantation Sector, supported by the Directorate General of Plantations (Ditjenbun) under the Ministry of Agriculture and funded by the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP).
Organized by PT Citra Widya Education (CWE), the training was conducted in five batches and involved 128 male participants and 27 female participants from several villages across North Morowali Regency.
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The program aims to strengthen farmers’ capabilities in implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to improve productivity, harvest quality, and sustainable management of smallholder oil palm plantations.
In his remarks, President Director of PT Citra Widya Education, St. Nugroho Kristono, emphasized that improving human resource quality is a critical factor in strengthening the competitiveness of Indonesia’s palm oil industry.
He noted that smallholder plantation productivity continues to lag behind company-managed plantations, making farmer capacity development a strategic step toward improving plantation performance.
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“Over the past four years, PT Citra Widya Education has continued to be trusted as a partner in implementing the palm oil plantation human resource training program initiated by the Directorate General of Plantations with financial support from BPDP,” Nugroho said in a statement received by Palmoilmagazine.com on Tuesday (July 14, 2026).
During the six-day training, participants received technical guidance from plantation practitioners and industry experts covering various aspects of oil palm cultivation. The training materials included cultivation techniques, plant maintenance, fertilization management, pest and disease control, and sustainable plantation management.
In addition to classroom sessions, participants also took part in discussions and knowledge-sharing activities to strengthen their understanding of how to apply improved cultivation practices in the field.
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Nugroho added that CWE would continue providing post-training assistance to ensure the knowledge gained could be effectively implemented on farmers’ plantations and contribute to higher productivity.
Meanwhile, Head of the Central Sulawesi Plantation and Livestock Office, Muhammad Neng, expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Directorate General of Plantations, BPDP, PT Citra Widya Education, and all parties involved in the program.
He said the training is expected to improve farmers’ knowledge and skills in applying GAP standards, enabling them to produce higher-quality fresh fruit bunches (FFB) that meet Indonesian National Standards (SNI).
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North Morowali was selected as the program’s target location because it has the largest oil palm plantation area in Central Sulawesi, covering more than 38,000 hectares. The region is also supported by five palm oil mills, which serve as key drivers of the local palm oil industry.
Through improved farmer competency, the government expects smallholder plantation productivity to continue increasing, supporting industrial raw material supplies, strengthening energy security through the biodiesel program, improving farmer welfare, and promoting sustainable palm oil development. (P2)
