House Members Met Smallholder Oil Palm Farmers in Serdang Bedagai

SEVERAL members of the House of Representatives Commission IX visited oil palm plantation in Serdang Bedagai Regency of North Sumatera, Friday (6/7/2018). They met smallholder farmers from Association of Farmers Groups (called “Gapoktan”) dan some stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of oil palm replanting program. During dialogue, farmers informed the members about the current situation and conditions regarding replanting program, hoping that government could grant them more replanting fund. For now, the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDPKS)  grants Rp25 millions per hectares to fund the replanting. Farmers also proposed an equal fund allocation with biodiesel incentives from BPDPKS. In response to statements expressed by farmers, members of House of Representative concluded that there has to be an adjusment on replanting regulation, including guidelines, implementation of Regulation of The Minister of Finance No 84/2017 concerning oil palm replanting fund disbursement. They also promised to invite all stakeholders to have a further discussion on the issue. The dialogue, chaired by Vice Chairman of House of Representatives Commission IX, Marwan Cik Asan,  was also attended by farmers of Gapoktan Amanah, Gapoktan Fortuna, Chairman of Apkasindo of North Sumatera, Vice Chairman of Gapki of North Sumatera, banking partners (BRI, BNI, and Mandiri), Head of Plantation Office of Serdang Bedagai Regency, Head of Plantation Office of North Sumatera, Director of Fund Collection of BPDPKS Herdrajat Natawijaya, and Head of Tax Regional Office of North Sumatera. ***