InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman did attend in the inauguration of central coordinators of Asosiasi Petani Kelapa Sawit Perkebunan Inti Rakyat (Aspekpir) Indonesia on 19 December 2023. It was in the hall of Ministry of Agriculture, having focus group discussion about smallholders replanting program (SRP) acceleration, infrastructures, and intercrops program in palm oil plantations belonging to the members of Aspekpir.

The speakers in the discussion were from Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (PFMA), General Directorate of Plantation, General Directorate of Palm Oil and Various Palm, Indonesian Palm Association (IPOA), and Aspekpir itself.

In his speech, Minister Amran told significant message to Aspekpir which was about to take other smallholders’ associations to unite to make palm oil industries go forward in Indonesia. He believed unity and cooperation among associations would be the successful key to face every challenge.

“We want to unite you. We have to. Be the first to be role model, be better, and we would survive. I am very sure, we can,” Minister Amran told to InfoSAWIT, Tuesday (19/12/2023) in Jakarta.

He also emphasized it needs to sustainably develop in palm oil sector. The programs would be needed not only to maintain, escalate plantation productivity, but also to encourage acceleration in downstream sectors and the governance sustainably.

“If we continue our programs, our country will keep exporting. There must be self – sufficiency in Indonesia. This is our idea. Idea, action, consistency to be character,” Minister Amran said.

For information, Aspekpir did the first national meeting in Pekanbaru, Riau Province on 6 November 2023. The votes decided Setiyono as the Chairman of Aspekpir in 2023 - 2028. The new leadership should take the organization to get strategic things to support palm oil industries in Indonesia. (T3)