Govt Confirms Oil Palm Replanting Program Launched by April

Indonesian Government confirmed that oil palm replanting program for smallholders (Program Peremajaan Sawit Rakyat/PSR) would be launched by April this year.

Govt Confirms Oil Palm Replanting Program Launched by April

JAKARTA—Indonesian Government confirmed that oil palm replanting program for smallholders (Program Peremajaan Sawit Rakyat/PSR) would be launched by April this year. Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said that the program for 2018 would be carried out at five regencies in Riau province, namely Rokan Hulu, Rokan Hilir, Kampar, Siak, and Pelalawan.

The 2018 replanting program was initially scheduled to be launched in February, but the plan had to be revisited due to the foreign activities of President Joko Widodo who expected to kick off the program. “The replanting is going to start in by April,” Darmin said in Jakarta, (14/3/2018), as reported by Kompas.com.

He added that the government will intensify the program this year folliwing completion of certification process of 5 million hectares land areas owned by smallholders in 2017. The oil palm replanting program would also be implemented in other provinces, including in Papua where farmers has completed their proposals. Identification of other areas needed the program is still in process.

PSR is a government initiated-program where the Indonesian Oil Palm Plantations Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) disbursed grants to support funding. For 2018, it has been allocated a total grant of Rp4.6 trillion or 22 percent of total funds managed by the agency.

In 2017, the government has implemented replanting program in Musi Banyuasin, South Sumatera on  4,446 hectares and Serdang Bedagai, North Sumatra on 9,109 hectares. ***