President Demands Increase in Palm Oil Productivity Without Land Expansion

PRESIDENT Joko Widodo demanded all stakeholders in palm oil industry to boost palm oil productivity without land expansion. This attempt is also needed to maintain Indonesia’s position as the world’s largest palm oil producer. President’s statement came as he delivered speech on the opening of Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) 2018 & 2019 Price Outlook at Sofitel, Nusa Dua Bali, Monday (29/10/2018). “We have implemented moratorium on oil palm plantation in order to boost the productivity. If currently one hectare plantation can produce three or four tons, then it should increase to reach six tons. If six tons has been reached, then increase it again to nine tons. We increase productivity in advance rather than plantation expansion,” the President said as published by State Secretariat. Jokowi asserted that performance of palm oil sector is impressive. Yet somehow, there are many challenges ahead, including replanting smallholders’ oil palm plantation, export market expansion, developing downstream industries, as well as implementation of B20 mandatory program. “42 million tons of crude palm oil in volume production is a huge number. It is valued by more than Rp300 trillion,” he said. At the same occasion, Gapki’s chairman Joko Supriyono said in his speech that he appreciated the President’s support to the industry by introducing policies to develop palm oil. “Moreover, Mr President always puts himself on the line to protect palm oil from all trade barriers, particularly in respond to  European and the US,” Joko said. IPOC is an annual event organized byt Gapki. For this year, the ‘Palm Oil Development: Contribution to SDGs’-themed conference is expected to attract more than 1.500 bussinespeople from 36 countries. The conference which is considered to be the biggest one in the world is also supported by the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDPKS). ***