PALMOILMAGAZINE, BANDA ACEH — A total of 86 palm oil farmers from Aceh Tamiang and East Aceh took part in a Technical Training on Oil Palm Cultivation held from August 4–8, 2025, at the Grand Nanggroe Hotel, Banda Aceh. The program is part of the 2025 Human Resource Development Program for the Palm Oil Plantation Sector, a collaboration between the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), the Directorate General of Plantations (Ditjenbun), and IPB Training.
The training was officially opened on Monday (4/8) by Mukhlis, SP, MA, Head of the Extension and Human Resource Development Division at the Aceh Provincial Agriculture and Plantation Office, and attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Human Resource Development Agency (BPPSDMP) and Ditjenbun.
Dr. Haryadi, M.S., a trainer from IPB Training, emphasized the need for farmers to evaluate and improve their cultivation practices.
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“Three keys to successful oil palm plantations are: selecting the right location, using certified high-quality seeds, and proper management—including fertilization and pest control. With the right approach, farmers can achieve the 7-TAS: Legality, Quantity, Quality, Continuity, Sustainability, Traceability, and Profitability,” he explained in an official statement received by Palmoilmagazine.com on Sunday (10/8/2025).
According to Apuk Ismane from BPPSDMP, the training supports the government’s mission to strengthen food security by improving the capacity of agricultural human resources. Ditjenbun’s representative, Mula Putra, added that smallholder palm oil productivity remains low—around 3.3 tons per hectare per year, compared to its potential of 5–6 tons. To address this, the government is prioritizing four strategies: scholarships, upskilling, farmer extension services, and field assistance.
Beyond classroom learning, participants joined a field visit to PT Agro Sinergi Nusantara on Thursday (7/8). They observed cultivation practices in mature plantations, nursery operations, and fruit sorting at the palm oil mill loading ramp.
Zuhri Pradana, Manager of Tanoh Makmue Seujahtera Estate, demonstrated effective harvesting techniques, pest and disease identification, and fruit quality standards demanded by the industry. Farmers were enthusiastic during the discussions, with many saying it was their first time witnessing industrial-scale plantation management firsthand.
The program is expected to broaden farmers’ knowledge of sustainable cultivation practices while preparing them to become key drivers of smallholder productivity growth. (P2)
