BPDPKS Invites to Improve Data of Indonesian Palm Oil

PRESIDENT Director of the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDPKS) Dono Boestami invited all stakeholders in palm oil industry in Indonesia to improve palm oil governance, particularly on its data base.

It is deemed necessary since Indonesia doesn’t own accurate data concerning palm oil industry. Dono said this lack of data can make it difficult to definitively map or know real condition of national palm oil industry.

“For example, current palm oil production is claimed to be oversupply. For us, it is still questionable because we have a moratorium on land expansion that means no land expansion for some time. But, suddenly the production is said to be oversupply. Probably, it’s because of the previous data or the current data do not show the actual production. This is something we have to find in advance,” Dono said in a talk show on Berita Satu TV, Tuesday (27/11/2018).

According to Dono, there are various numbers when measuring oil palm plantation area. Many parties have their own data, but each of them shows different numbers. Initially, General Directorate Plantation at Agriculture Ministry said we have 12 million hectares palm oil plantations. But, the data was revised to 15 million hectares.

“Even the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has its own data, showing 16 million hectares. On the other hand, businesspeople also has their own data, showing 18 million hectares. It is unquestionable if businesspeople show the data since they hold certificates of Rights to Exploit (HGU), but the data on the paper and the actual one in the field may be different. Probably, the true number is 20 million hectares,” Dono added.

Currently, BPDPKS is collecting data while implementing smallholders’ oil palm replanting program (PSR). Apart from replacing old trees with new ones, the program also collects data about land area, farmers who own the land, location, as well as coordinate location of the plantation.

“Collecting data is of course will take time, but this is what we are doing together with Directorate General of Plantation at Agriculture Ministry. The fund is available for doing this,” Dono said. ***