InfoSAWIT, DELI SERDANG – On Thursday (14/3/2024), President Joko Widodo inaugurated red palm cooking oil mill in Pagar Merbau, Regency of Deli Serdang, North Sumatera Province. The initiative of the government became the focus because it contributed not only to economic development but would escalate the people’s nutrients.
As a pilot project, the mill would be the good progress to escalate smallholders’ welfare and provide more nutritious food alternative for the people.
In his speech, President Joko Widodo also took the people to consume red palm oil for having better nutrition.
The successful construction had something to do with Ministry of Cooperation and Small and Medium Business that tried so hard to realize it. Head of National Food Agency (NFA), Arief Prasetyo Adi did appreciate it.
To make red palm cooking oil more economic, the government commits to make sure that it would be sold more competitive than other palm cooking oil in the markets. Aried also emphasized the roles of NFA, Perum Bulog, and ID Food to distribute it and more people would get the advantages.
Not only being economic, red palm cooking oil is better in nutrition. Arief told it could be part of stunting case to be solve, which is a health issue that the government concerns with. “By having cooperation with Badan Kependudukan dan Keluarga Berencana Nasional (BKKBN), it is hoped the red palm cooking oil would increase the people’s health,” he said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from the official page of Bapanas, Saturday (15/3/2024).
Minister of Cooperation, Small and Medium Business, Teten Masduki did support red palm cooking oil consumption as the solution to stunting issue. He told the government should intervene to escalate nutrition by consuming it.
Red palm cooking oil mill in Pagar Merbau was the collaborative project between the private and public sectors that PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) would manage. With the technology support from PT Riset Perkebunan Nusantara and Pusat Penelitian Kelapa Sawit (PPKS), the mill is the real commitment to develop plantation sector and smallholders’ welfare. (T2)
