InfoSAWIT, AGAM – Plasma program by PT AMP Plantation, Wilmar Group is proved to create multiplier – effects to escalate smallholders’ economy in District of Agam, West Sumatera Province.
Treasurer of Koperasi Perkebunan Agro Wira Masang, Maharsal Indra appreciated the commitment of the company in realizing plasma plantation that has been running since 1997. The program really and significantly escalates the plasma smallholders’ lives. Palm oil also massively encourages circular money in the region.
“Many villagers did not have motor bike but now many have cars, motors, get new areas, easily get bank loans, and every day, there must be one going to pilgrim and many children get higher education in the universities,” he said some time ago.
The high income by planting and cultivating palm oil plantation becomes one major support of the regional economy in Agam. They also believe that the price of the golden commodity would not be cheaper faster and it is still the ‘primadona’. “No one wanted palm oil years ago but now, palm oil is the one,” Indra said.
The 2000 members of the cooperation got their rights on plasma plantation that laid about 810 hectares. By implementing good agricultural practices, they got fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield up to 1,5 tons per hectare per month or almost equal to the company’s one. This is also supported by the fertile areas.
Secretary of Koperasi Tompek Tapian Kandih, Rabuman said that his cooperation got the impact from plasma program. In 1980 - 1990s-an, Raboman as was still a worker of the company that operated in forest cultivation rights. The economy started increasing since 2000s after he became a plasma smallholder. Besides, palm oil company that operates in the region hires the local workers. “At this time, 70 percent of the workers in the companies are from the local,” he said.
The cooperation now manages plasma plantation that laid about 512 hectares. It has 256 smallholders. The cooperation has implemented replanting program by taking advantages fund from Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (PFMA) that reached up to Rp 8 (eight) billion. They once got the peak FFB production up to 2 – 2,5 tons per hectare per month. But now the production gets decreasing for being in replanting program.
Manager plasma PT AMP Plantation, Wiyono said that his company realized plasma program that reached about 35 percent since 1992 just like the government’s regulation. The company developed plasma smallholders in good agricultural practices, providing plantation infrastructures. “What we deliver for the smallholders is our responsibility to help them get welfare,” Wiyono said, as in the official statement to InfoSAWIT recently. (T2)
