PALMOILMAGAZINE, NORTH ACEH – The North Aceh chapter of the Oil Palm Smallholders Union (SPKS) is intensifying efforts to improve plantation infrastructure by formally proposing a facilities and infrastructure (sarpras) program to the central government.
The initiative is being led by SPKS North Aceh Chairman, Abubakar AR, who has been actively assisting the submission process for plantation road rehabilitation proposals. The proposal was coordinated through the Berkat Bunga Damai Plantation Producer Cooperative and submitted to the Directorate General of Estates (Dirjenbun).
The program targets 345 independent oil palm farming households, covering a total plantation area of approximately 780 hectares. The proposed locations span four villages: Cot Girek in Cot Girek Subdistrict, as well as Seureuke, Lubok Pusaka, and Buket Linteung in Langkahan Subdistrict, all within North Aceh Regency.
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Abubakar emphasized that the submission is the result of more than two and a half years of intensive groundwork. This includes farmer outreach, physical data collection, and verification of land legality documents.
“We are fully committed and highly motivated in carrying out our role as a smallholder organization. From data collection to compiling essential documents such as ID cards, family records, land ownership certificates, and plantation photos, everything has been conducted collaboratively with farmers on the ground,” he said in an official statement received on Friday (April 10, 2026).
He highlighted that the current condition of plantation roads in the targeted areas is severely deteriorated, having gone without proper maintenance for years. This has significantly hindered farmers’ ability to transport fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to palm oil mills, ultimately affecting both productivity and income levels.
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“Nearly all plantation roads are in critical condition. Farmers are struggling to transport their harvest,” Abubakar added.
SPKS North Aceh is calling on the government—particularly the Directorate General of Estates, the Directorate of Oil Palm and Palma Crops, and the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP)—to prioritize and support the proposal.
According to Abubakar, improving plantation road infrastructure is an urgent necessity for independent smallholders, as it directly impacts accessibility, distribution efficiency, and overall farmer welfare.
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“Farmers across these four villages are placing high hopes on this program. Reliable plantation roads are essential to boosting productivity and improving livelihoods,” he concluded. (P2)
