InfoSAWIT, SAMARINDA – To solve fresh fruit bunch (FFB) issue that many middlemen take part in, East Kalimantan Plantation Agency suggests smallholders to get partnership with (crude) palm oil mills.

Head of East Kalimantan Plantation Agency, Ence Achmad Rafiddin Rizal said that it is significant for the smallholders to join group or union because it would make them stronger in FFB negotiation.

“Besides, this is important because FFB price that many sectors decided, would be available for plasma smallholders or plantation in partnership, including the independent ones that got partnership with mill,” Ence Achmad Rafiddin Rizal said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from Antara, Wednesday (17/4/2024).

FFB price decision by many sectors is about to create profit balance between the smallholders and mills. By joining groups or unions or in partnership with mills, FFB price that the smallholders would get would be fair and obeyed every available regulation.

He also told FFB price got increased on 1 - 15 April 2024. The more than 10 year old FFB was Rp 2.667,50 per kilogram (kg), got increased from the previous period that was Rp 2.598,86 per kg. Besides, CPO got increased to be Rp 12.500,10 per kg, palm kernel increased to be Rp 6.010,79 per kg. These would help them to get better price and minimize their dependence on middlemen. (T2)