PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUBU RAYA – The atmosphere at Hall Q, Hotel Resort Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, felt special on Wednesday (September 23, 2025). Around 800 palm oil smallholders from across Indonesia gathered for the opening of the 5th Indonesian Palm Oil Smallholder Conference (IPOSC). This annual event serves as a platform for farmers to meet, exchange ideas, and shape strategies for advancing the smallholder movement amid the constantly evolving palm oil industry.
Representing the Governor of West Kalimantan, Heronimus Hero, Head of the Provincial Livestock and Plantation Agency, emphasized the vital role of plantations—particularly palm oil—for the regional economy. More than 20% of West Kalimantan’s GRDP comes from agriculture, with palm oil as the primary contributor. “About one million farmers in West Kalimantan depend on palm oil for their livelihood. Its contribution is real, both for communities and regional development,” Hero stated during the opening ceremony, attended by Palmoilmagazine.com.
Government data shows that West Kalimantan is home to 368 palm oil companies with a total planted area of 3 million hectares, out of a potential 3.9 million hectares suitable for palm oil. Of this, 1.7 million hectares are already productive, while another 900,000 hectares remain open for new investment—provided it complies with sustainability regulations.
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Hero stressed that economic growth must not come at the expense of compliance. “We should not allow only negative narratives about palm oil to dominate. The fact is, palm oil supports 32% of West Kalimantan’s GRDP, including through downstream industries,” he added.
Still, challenges lie ahead. Stricter global market regulations—particularly from the European Union—require Indonesia’s palm oil industry to align with sustainability standards. For Hero, the conference is critical to strengthening smallholders’ position so they remain part of the global supply chain without being left behind.
A similar message came from Mansuetus Darto, Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers’ Organization Association (POPSI). He underlined the need for a single umbrella body to unite the various smallholder organizations nationwide. Currently, there are at least 12 farmer associations, each grappling with unresolved local-level issues. “We need a national union capable of voicing farmers’ interests collectively,” Darto asserted.
The momentum of the 5th IPOSC carried extra meaning as it coincided with National Farmers’ Day, commemorated every September 24 since its establishment by President Soekarno under Presidential Decree No. 169 of 1963.
For Darto, this day is more than symbolic—it reflects Indonesia’s agrarian ideals that place land, water, and natural resources for the greatest benefit of the people, as mandated by Article 33 of the Constitution. “The farmers’ struggle is far from over. Dialogue with the government must continue to ensure policies do not harm smallholders, especially those located in forest areas,” he said.
With support from multiple stakeholders—including the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), private companies, and the media—the conference is expected to be a unifying moment. Beyond strengthening the farmers’ movement, it also seeks to reaffirm palm oil’s role as a cornerstone of Indonesia’s sustainable economic development. (P2)
