PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUTAI BARAT – The community hall of Mencimai Village, Barong Tongkok District, was filled with palm oil farmers on August 21–22, 2025. They gathered to join a training program organized by the East Kalimantan Provincial Plantation Agency (Disbun Kaltim), aimed at transforming farmers’ perspectives from being mere plantation workers into drivers of a modern economy.
The program, titled Assistance and Empowerment of Plantation Farmer Groups 2025, was officially opened by Disbun Kaltim’s Acting Head, represented by agricultural extension officer Roni Helpani. In his remarks, Roni underscored palm oil’s vital role as a leading commodity with vast potential to improve livelihoods in Kutai Barat.
“Palm oil is not just about producing oil—it also carries hope. But we need stronger institutional management, higher productivity, and more structured marketing practices,” he said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com on Monday (Aug 25, 2025).
Twenty farmers from the Sinar Tani I Farmer Group participated in the training, which emphasized the importance of farmer organizations in strengthening bargaining power in the marketplace. Trainers Teguh Harianto and Bastianus Zaevi delivered sessions that went beyond cultivation techniques, focusing on institutional strategies to help farmers remain resilient in facing global market challenges.
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Roni stressed that transformation would not be possible without a shift in mindset. “Solidarity, trust, and collective work are the keys. Once the mindset changes, farmer institutions will become more active, more productive, and capable of delivering real welfare for their members,” he noted.
Disbun Kaltim reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing mentoring through officers at provincial, district, and field levels. The goal is for Sinar Tani I to become a model of successful transformation in Kutai Barat—not only productive in the plantation but also strong institutionally and prosperous in their socio-economic lives. (P2)
