This Is SOE Minister Erick Thohir's Solution For Oil Palm Farmers In Riau

SOE Minister Erick Thohir. (Intermediate Photo)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir introduced the Makmur program for oil palm farmers in Riau. He wants the program implemented by PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) to answer the complaints of oil palm farmers in Riau Province regarding fertilizers, seeds and capital.

Special Staff III of the Minister of SOEs Arya Sinulingga during a working visit to Gunung Sahilan, Kampar Regency, Riau, met with a farmer group in Makmur Sejahtera Village.

"So Mr. Erick (Minister of SOEs) is pushing for the Prosperous Program, which used to be called Agro Solution, it's difficult to call it Agro Solution, that's why it was made by Mr. Erick called the Prosperous Program, if Makmur has a clear name and purpose," said Arya in a written statement received at Jakarta, Saturday.

There, Arya also had a dialogue with farmers who were not aware of the program that was launched in August 2021.

According to him, the program which means "Let's Advance People's Business" provides many benefits to farmers. Because the Prosperous Program is an ecosystem that connects farmers with all forms of agricultural needs, ranging from project leaders, insurance companies, financial institutions, agricultural technology, agro inputs, offtakers, and local governments.

"So my goal here is to wait for the gentlemen (farmers) to speak, I want to hear what their complaints are, how to make the Prosperous Program work," said Arya.

According to him, some farmers' problems have actually been answered in the Prosperous Program ecosystem. Starting from financing that is supported by financial institutions, fertilization, nurseries, to crop failure, there are also those who bear it.

"So, through the Prosperous Program we provide convenience for farmers in cultivating. The result is an increase in productivity which leads to an increase in farmer profits," he said as reported by Antara.

The Makmur program has been implemented since April 2021 on an area of 1,937 hectares with palm oil as a commodity. This program involved 1,042 farmers. Furthermore, Pupuk Sriwidjaja also re-implemented the Prosperous Program in Makmur Sejahtera Village, Gunung Sahilan District, Kampar Regency, Riau.

This time, the implementation is on an area of 730 hectares with palm oil commodities and involves 365 farmers. Offtakers from the two locations are CV Mecca Jaya Mandiri and PT Sinergi Sumber Tani.

The area of oil palm that is included in the Prosperous Program in the Riau area is 6,841 hectares. The entire area is spread over nine villages and three regencies, namely Rokan Hulu covering 2,124 hectares, Kampar 2,917 hectares, and Kuantan Singingi 1,800 hectares.

Hopefully, the Prosperous Program from the Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir, can be used by oil palm farmers in Riau as has been felt in other areas.