Minister Of Agriculture Supports Entrepreneurs To Develop Sustainable Palm Oil

Illustration of palm oil (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo emphasized that he supports the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (Gapki) in sustainable development.

This support includes the people's palm oil acceleration program which must be carried out in a synergistic manner between the government, business actors, and oil palm farmers.

"The President, Vice President, and Minister all out support Gapki to protect the national palm oil industry. This includes accelerating the realization of people's palm oil rejuvenation," said the Minister of Agriculture quoting Antara.

Previously at the Opening of the XI Gapki National Conference (Munas) at the Vice President's Palace, Friday (3/3) the Minister of Agriculture stated that palm oil continues to be the support and mainstay of the national economy in the midst of global economic uncertainty conditions.

This national strategic commodity makes a very significant contribution to Indonesia's export performance.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), he added, the value of agricultural exports from January to December 2022 was IDR 640.56 trillion, an increase of 3.93 percent compared to the same period in 2021. Sub-sector plantations continue to be the largest contributor to exports in the agricultural sector with a contribution of IDR 622.37 trillion (97.16%).

The exports of plantation commodities that soared in 2022 were mostly contributed by palm oil with a value of IDR 468.64 trillion (75.30%).

"This shows that the export opportunities for plantation commodities, including palm oil as a source of foreign exchange, are still increasing," said Syahrul.

According to him, the contribution of palm oil is supported from the area of the national oil palm cover which has reached 16.38 million hectares (ha), of which around 6.9 million ha belongs to the people's palm oil planter.

"However, the condition of our people's oil palm plantations continues to face major challenges related to rejuvenation productivity and achievements," he said.

The Minister of Agriculture said that the partnership between large palm oil companies (private and state-owned enterprises) and people's plantations must be strengthened. This partnership will encourage increased productivity of people's oil palm plantations, one of which is through the people's palm oil rejuvenation program (PSR).

Every year the PSR program is targeted at 180,000 ha spread across 21 provinces of palm oil centers. "Gapki must be able to take part in the success of the program," he said.