Forward Palm Oil Industry, Gapki: Proven As Long As COVID-19 No Layoffs

Palm Oil Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Palm Oil (Gapki) business association stated that it remains focused on maintaining and encouraging the advancement of the palm oil industry. In addition, it is still able to make a maximum contribution in providing job opportunities and foreign exchange donations.

Meanwhile, Gapki Chairman Joko Supriyono said that his party as an association in the upstream oil palm plantation sector was a government partner.

This has been proven during the three years of the pandemic, the palm oil industry can quickly recover in the face of a slowdown in economic growth.

"During the pandemic, there was no termination of employment in the palm oil industry," he said.

According to Joko Supriyono, oil palm plantation companies have a commitment and are consistent in building and strengthening partnerships, especially partnerships with palm oil farmers.

"In partnership with oil palm farmers is a necessity, companies and farmers are a supply chain that cannot be separated. If the price of FFB goes down and farmers are difficult, then the company is also difficult because the price of CPO will definitely go down, and vice versa," he said.

Partnerships are becoming increasingly important and even urgent today, especially because of the importance of increasing farmer's plantation productivity. This movement to increase people's garden productivity is carried out with the people's palm oil rejuvenation program (PSR).

The plantation company, he added, will take part in this program through partnerships with farmers both in the PSR program and in cultivation techniques for those who have not.

"We believe that the PSR program is in line with the current government's priority, namely reducing extreme poverty, reducing stunting and intensifying investment," said Joko Supriyono.