PALMOILMAGAZINE, MERANGIN – The Tanjung Sehati Smallholders Group Association (Gapoktan) in Mekar Jaya Village, Tabir Selatan Subdistrict, Merangin Regency, Jambi Province, is committed to minimizing workplace accidents in independent smallholder plantations by continuously providing safety training.
These efforts align with good agricultural practices and underscore the importance of maintaining the health and safety of both workers and smallholders.
Jalal Sayuti, Chairman of Gapoktan Tanjung Sehati, highlighted the importance of training, particularly in the proper use of personal protective equipment and safe spraying techniques. “The training is crucial for enhancing smallholders’ knowledge and constantly reminding them to prevent workplace accidents,” he stated, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from Fortasbi on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
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Gapoktan Tanjung Sehati, which comprises 526 smallholders—374 men and 152 women—manages approximately 1,354.4 hectares of land certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Jalal emphasized that the RSPO certification obliges them to adhere to its principles and criteria, including ensuring workplace safety.
“We provided and delivered self-protection tools for the sprayers, health services freely, and get regular check to minimize the chemical impacts for them,” he said. Besides, the organization would keep trying to escalate plantation productivity by implementing good agricultural practices.
To maintain the sustainability. Gapoktan Tanjung Sehati is now preparing every process to get ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) certificate. It is in the third year now. Wilmar, the partner of the smallholders’ organization would support the certification process by delivering self – protection tools for them.
Jalal emphasized the collaboration with many parties would be significant to escalate sustainable palm oil practices. “By having continuous trainings, the smallholders would be more aware of sustainability. The credit fund from RSPO and helps from the partner would be the way to realize the goal,” he said.
By these, Gapoktan Tanjung Sehati hoped to always develop sustainable plantations, escalate the productivity, maintain the health of labors and smallholders in the field. (P2)
