InfoSAWIT, MEDAN — Bank Riau Kepri (BRK) Syariah continues to strengthen its role in supporting smallholder oil palm development in Riau Province. One tangible effort is a workshop focused on managing and accelerating the distribution of Oil Palm Smallholder Replanting Program (PSR) funds.

Held at the Santika Premier Dyandra Hotel & Convention in Medan on Friday, the event was attended by 25 administrators of Village Unit Cooperatives (KUD) and farmer groups (Poktan) partnered with BRK Syariah. These groups are strategic partners contributing significantly to the growth of the sharia-based regional bank.

The workshop, organized by BRK Syariah’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Division in collaboration with the Medan Oil Palm Research Center (PPKS) and BPDPKS, aimed to enhance partners’ understanding of seedling provision, plantation management, and PSR fund application procedures.

Hernawan Yuli Rahmadi, Head of Research at PPKS Medan, praised BRK Syariah’s initiative in educating partners. He emphasized that oil palm is a highly productive crop suitable for Sumatra, including Riau and North Sumatra. However, smallholder success depends on technical knowledge, from fertilization to land management.

“Oil palm has huge potential, but without technical knowledge, yields won’t be optimal. Workshops like this are crucial,” Hernawan said, as reported by InfoSAWIT from kabarsdgs on Monday (26/5/2025).

Jazuli, Head of BRK Syariah’s MSME Division, stated that mentoring KUD and Poktan aligns with the bank’s mission to strengthen MSMEs, including micro-plantation businesses.

“We are committed to advancing MSMEs, including oil palm farmers. At BRK Syariah, MSME financing can reach up to Rp1.5 billion,” he explained.

He added that in the second half of the year, BRK Syariah will expand partnerships to develop tech-based downstream palm oil products.

“We want oil palm to be not just a raw commodity but a source of value-added innovation,” he said. (T2)