InfoSAWIT, PEKANBARU – Smallholders replanting program (SRP) is the big hope for smallholders and planters’ organizations in Riau to increase their plantation productivity.
Bank Riau Kepri Syariah (BRK Syariah) opened the big chance by distributing SRP fund for smallholders. It shows the strong commitment to support plantation sector which is vital for the economy in the region.
Director of Fund and Service BRK Syariah, MA Suharto, in the palm oil plantation SRP and fund distribution event in Batam, said that in 2023, the institution distributed SRP fund for 1.074 planters/smallholders that reached Rp 70,3 billion in total. By April 2024, BRK Syariah did distribute SRP fund for 353 planters/smallholders with the total fund about Rp 23,6 billion.
Suharto emphasized tht the collaboration among BRK Syariah, Riau Province Plantation Agency, and plantation agencies in the districts/city, would be the successful key to succeed SRP in the province. Besides, the institution also provide the next fund to others, such as, SRP agribusiness finance that by March 2024, it totally reached Rp 260 billion and delivered for 4.098 customers.
“We are optimist that plantation sectors would be the main pillar to escalate the people’s welfare and the development in many villages in Riau. BRK Syariah would be ready by delivering fund distribution for smallholders replanting program,” Suharto said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from berazam.com.
But there are challenges, such as, the proposals to get SRP that smallholders have difficulties; the lack of education from related agency for smallholders/planters’ institutions about the program. And to solve the issues, it is hoped there would be collaboration among Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (PFMA) plantation agency, and BRK Syariah to escalate the smallholders’ welfare and their plantation productivity, and also to sustainability of palm oil plantations in Riau Province.
Head of Plantation Production, Plantation Agency Riau Province, Vera Virgianti said that it would be significant for every party to get SRP and improve palm oil plantation productivity. She also told this would be the big chance for smallholders and other planters to escalate the plantation sector in Riau.
By having the spirit of collaboration and seriousness in SRP, it is hoped, sustainable palm oil plantations in Riau would be realized through multi-party synergy, escalating production, additional values, and competition. “Let us do the best together to welfare the people and make plantation sector go forward in Riau Province,” Vera said. (T2)
