PALMOILMAGAZINE, ACEH – The Chairman of the Oil Palm Smallholders Union (SPKS) Aceh, Abubakar AR, is assisting cooperatives and farmer groups in registering for infrastructure aid from the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP or PFMA). He urged relevant authorities to ensure a smooth administrative process.
Currently, Abubakar is supporting three farmer organizations across North Aceh and East Aceh. In North Aceh, he is assisting the Berkat Bunga Damai Plantation Producers Cooperative in Cot Girek village.
This cooperative manages 1,700 hectares of independent oil palm plantations with 600 farmer members. Poor road conditions have significantly impacted production and harvesting. Of the total roads requiring repairs, 120 kilometers with 86 critical points have been prioritized.
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“Damaged roads have increased fresh fruit bunch (FFB) transportation costs. Smallholders must use Helin Gardang Dua trucks at IDR 350 per kilogram. Without this, FFB may rot and remain unsold to palm oil processing plants (PKS),” Abubakar told Palmoilmagazine.com on Saturday (March 1, 2025).
The cooperative’s members are spread across six villages: Cot Girek, Seureuke, Lubok Pusaka, Buket Lintueng (Langkahan subdistrict), Cinta Makmur (Baktiya), and Buket Hagu (Lhoksukon transmigration area). They hope BPDPKS grants will soon be realized to improve infrastructure.
In addition to North Aceh, Abubakar is assisting two farmer organizations in East Aceh—a farmer group association (Gapoktan) and a farmer group (Poktan). He emphasized the need for local authorities to avoid unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles if all requirements are met.
“Smallholders struggle to upload necessary data, including ID cards, family certificates, land ownership documents (SHM, SKT), self-portraits, and other paperwork. Farmer group leaders must also secure land use statements outside the Business Use Rights (HGU) area from the ATR/BPN office in North and East Aceh. Additionally, they need approval from the Forest Area Stabilization Center (BPKH) in Banda Aceh for areas outside protected forests,” he explained.
Abubakar stressed that involved agencies must comply with Directorate General of Plantations Decree No. 273/2020 and No. 62/2023 regarding BPDP infrastructure funds. He warned against any parties imposing unauthorized fees for recommendations.
“I will oversee this process closely. If any officials create unnecessary difficulties, we won’t hesitate to report them to the Intelligence and Security Division of the National Police Headquarters. This is part of our commitment to sustainable palm oil and bioenergy, aligning with Indonesia’s 2045 vision under the leadership of President-elect Prabowo and Vice President-elect Gibran,” Abubakar concluded. (P2)
