PTPN IV PalmCo Encourages Government And Association To Improve The Welfare Of Oil Palm Farmers

JAKARTA - PTPN IV PalmCo encourages the strengthening of partnerships between companies, governments and associations of oil palm farmers to improve the welfare of plantations. This was conveyed by the President Director of PTPN IV PalmCo, Jatmiko Santosa at the Indonesian Aspekpir Partnership Business Forum which took place in Pekanbaru recently.

The forum was attended by the management of PTPN IV in Riau, including the General Chair of the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI) Eddy Martono, Chairman of the Indonesian Aspectir Setyono, representatives of the Riau Provincial Government, and palm oil industry business players, to representatives of oil palm farmers.

Jatmiko emphasized that the company's commitment to supporting increased productivity as well as the welfare of farmers. According to him, PalmCo does not only act as an offtaker, but also as a driver of the palm oil ecosystem from upstream to downstream.

"PalmCo is committed to becoming a farmer's partner to ensure productivity and welfare sustainability. In line with the vision of food independence and the strengthening of farmers, we encourage the rejuvenation of people's palm oil, the provision of superior seeds to be certified, to strengthening farmer institutions," said Jatmiko in Jakarta, Wednesday, September 3.

Jatmiko explained, until July 2025, PalmCo was recorded to have helped issue technical recommendations for 14,520 hectares of gardens, realized the disbursement of funds from the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) covering an area of 13,864 hectares with a value of more than Rp. 831 billion, and carried out planting in 10,628 hectares of community oil palm plantations.

The company, said Jatmiko, also distributed 5.7 million superior seeds to support rejuvenation on 40,000 hectares of land involving more than 20,000 farmers. In addition, the subholding of the Nusantara Plantation Holding PTPN III (Persero) has also accompanied 90 cooperatives of oil palm farmers in various regions with technical training, administration, and cultivation management.

The sustainable palm oil certification program (RSPO) is also continuing. Until 2024, certification has been implemented on 1,889 hectares of land involving 869 families.

"All these achievements will be difficult to realize without collaboration with many parties. Starting from farmers and their own institutions, to the government and associations," he explained.

Therefore, Jatmiko hopes that the collaboration between companies, governments and farmers can be stronger and have an impact on the acceleration of PSR itself.

"I invite all of us to continue to collaborate. Maintain communication, organize coordination. Increasing national palm oil productivity is key. Not only for food and energy independence, but also for the welfare of the farmers we want," said Jatmiko.

In line with that, the SEVP Business Support of PTPN IV Regional III, Bambang Budi Santoso, emphasized the importance of cross-party synergy to increase national palm oil competitiveness.

Strengthening the palm oil ecosystem cannot run alone. It needs close collaboration with the government, associations, and other stakeholders. We have proven it," he said.

Bambang also gave an example of the success of the People's Palm Oil Rejuvenation Program (PSR) in Riau which has been modernized since 2019. Through this program, he said, the productivity of partner farmers' plantations increased significantly. Farmers' income was also recorded at an average of Rp. 12 million per month per plot.

"The impact is not only on the welfare of farmers' families, but also on moving the village economy more evenly," said Bambang.

He added that more than 2,000 partner farmers are now preparing to obtain RSPO certification to strengthen their position in the global market.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Aspespir Supervisory Board, Rusman Heriawan, appreciated the consistency of PTPN IV in building partnerships with farmers. He said palm oil commodities were proven to be able to accelerate the reduction in poverty in the production center area.

Oil palm farmers are now rarely poor. That's a fact. Palm Oil has raised people's welfare and contributed to reducing national poverty," he said.

Rusman also emphasized that the relationship between Aspekripri and PTPN has been established since the 1980s and has been maintained until now.

"We are pure farmers who focus on improving fate. Aspekpir loyalty to building partnerships with companies is unquestionable," he said.

With close collaboration between companies, governments, and associations, it is hoped that oil palm farmers in Indonesia will be more independent, the industry will be more resilient, and the contribution to the national economy will be greater.

d