IPOS Forum 2019 Held to Seek Solution to Palm Oil Issues

Indonesian palm oil stakeholders convened in Medan, (25/7/2019), to discuss recent issues in the industry. Gathering at the 4^th Indonesian Palm Oil Stakeholder Forum (IPOS) 2019, they talk about several highly topical theme, included action plan, security in plantation, replanting, implementation of Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO), regulations, etc. The meeting organized by Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) of North Sumatera and Aceh was expected to find solutions or communiqué to the issues.  Vice Governor of North Sumatera Musa Rajekshah officially opened the meeting at Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel & Convention, Medan. Delivering key-note address, Musa invited smallholder farmers to take advantage of a Rp25 million grant provided by the Indonesia Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) to replant their old threes. Under a program named PSR (Smallholders’ Oil Palm Plantation Replanting Program), the government pairs with BPDPKS support smallholders by providing grant of Rp25 million per hectares. Musa asserted that farmers can easily receive the grand as long as they meet all legal requirements. Farmers who are eligible to receive the grant must join a farmers group or cooperative, own lands proved by freehold certificate, must be Indonesian citizen proved by Resident Identity Card (KTP) and then BPDPKS will verify the lands. “The government provides grants for oil palm replanting and quite a few farmers have joined the program. On average, farmers need Rp40 million to replant trees. Under the program, the government provides Rp25 million for free. It helps much,” Musa said. Musa also expected farmers to apply good farming practices in order to sustain its production as well as  to protect environment. “Technology is rapidly developing and not to mention replanting technology. Today, we have oil palm seeds that can grow faster and we have to make sure that we keep up with these changes. We also have to involve communities because oil palm plantations must benefit the people. It can be achieved by implementing nucleus and plasma plantations or CSR.” At the same time, Vice Chairman of Gapki Kacuk Sumarto reminded the stakeholders of the need for the industry to bring back North Sumatera’s identity as the largest palm oil producer in Indonesia. It is possible to achieve as North Sumatera has everything it needs to produce good quality palm oil. “Palm oil shipment is predicted to decrease about 20 million tons next year because the European Union tends to switch palm oil to other products. That’s why we need to bring the good times back to North Sumatera,” Kacuk said. ***