Oil Palm Replanting is Expected to Cover 20 Thousand Hectares a Month
COORDINATING Minister of Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution expected the government’s oil palm tree replanting program could be accelerated to cover 20 thousand hectares each month. “We hope and expect the replanting program could reach 20 thousand hectares per month in each province,” Darmin said as he talked with representatives of the Central Board of the Indonesian Oil Palm Farmers Association (Apkasindo) at his office in Jakarta, Thursday (9/8/2018). Apkasindo agreed with Darmin to accelerate the program.
COORDINATING Minister of Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution expected the government’s oil palm tree replanting program could be accelerated to cover 20 thousand hectares each month.
“We hope and expect the replanting program could reach 20 thousand hectares per month in each province,” Darmin said as he talked with representatives of the Central Board of the Indonesian Oil Palm Farmers Association (Apkasindo) at his office in Jakarta, Thursday (9/8/2018).
Apkasindo agreed with Darmin to accelerate the program. In Darmin’s view, the philosophy of program is to help people, not to make it difficult for farmers to receive replanting fund. Under this philosophy, government has obligation to help farmers to fulfill replanting requirement.
The oil palm replanting program is funded by a levy on palm oil exports managed by the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDPKS). Currently, BPDPKS disburses Rp25 million per hectares for smallholder farmers who replant their oil palm plantation. At present, the government is accelerating certification process to ensure that the replanting efforts can run smoothly.
Darmin asked Apkasindo to actively provide assistance to both plasma smallholder farmers and independent farmers. Together with other oil palm stakeholder, Apkasindo was also asked to introduce a fresh concept to accelerate replanting program.
Vice General Secretary of Apkasindo, Rino Afrino stated that his organization fully supports the replanting program. Supported by its member in 22 provinces and 140 regencies, Apkasindo is ready to provide technical assistance for farmers so that they can fulfill all requirement to join the replanting program.
At Rokan Hilir Regency in the Province of Riau, Apkasindo succeeded in supporting famers who are member of Cooperatives Holding (KUD) Subur Makmur to join the replanting program. “The replanting program was inaugurated by President Jokowi. This success proves that we are ready to support the program,” Rino said. ***
