InfoSAWIT, BANDA ACEH — Not just an ordinary technical training, the Technical Training Program for Oil Palm Cultivation organized by the Palm Oil Fund Management Agency (BPDP), Directorate General of Plantations, and IPB Training in Banda Aceh marks a significant milestone in shaping the character of future palm oil farmers: professional, adaptive, and long-term thinkers.
Over five days, from June 21 to 25, 2025, 88 participants from two major palm oil-producing regencies in Aceh — Aceh Tamiang and Aceh Timur — not only learned theory but also delved into a new philosophy of managing plantations. In the training room at Hotel Grand Nanggroe, participants were introduced to what is referred to as the “seven bags” by the IPB Training teaching team.
‘Seven Bags’: Not Just Equipment, But Pillars of Farmer Success
The “seven bags” are not merely a term but a symbol of seven crucial aspects that every palm oil farmer must take home: Legality, Productivity, Quality, Continuity, Sustainability, Traceability, and Profitability.
“If you manage your oil palm plantation correctly, you will not only gain one benefit but seven at once,” emphasized Dr. Hariyadi, MS from IPB Training in an official statement written by InfoSAWIT on Thursday (June 26, 2025).
He added that currently, palm oil is no longer just a plantation crop but a strategic commodity contributing over Rp600 trillion to the national foreign exchange annually, surpassing the oil and gas sector.
One of the added values of this training is the “learning by seeing” approach. On the fourth day, participants visited PT Agro Sinergi Nusantara. At the estate, farmers were divided into small groups to visit three important locations: the seedling area, immature (TBM) plants, and mature (TM) plants.
Guided by the company's agronomic team, participants learned directly about selecting superior seeds, fertilization techniques, pest control strategies, and efficient and safe harvesting methods. High enthusiasm was evident, reflected in lively discussions and various questions during the visit.
“I now understand better how to care for TBM properly to maximize future yields. This is very different from our usual practices back home,” said one participant from Aceh Timur.
Mukhlis, SP, MA, Head of the Extension and Human Resource Development Division at the Aceh Agriculture and Plantation Office, who opened the event, emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacity of independent farmers amid the dynamics of the global palm oil industry that increasingly demands sustainability and traceability.
Meanwhile, Dr. M. Apuk Ismane, representing the BPPSDMP of the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that this program is part of the government's larger efforts to build superior and highly competitive plantation human resources.
IPB Training speakers such as Dr. Budi Nugroho, Ir. Sri Hermawan, and Ir. Fajar Wahyudi, MBA, also enriched the training with contextual learning methods based on field needs. The material was designed to be easily digestible and applicable for farmers, covering everything from cultivation techniques to understanding applicable policies and regulations.
For IPB Training, this training is not the end but the starting point for building resilient palm oil farmers. “We hope this training sparks a new awareness. Managing palm oil is not just about harvest results but also about sustainability, legality, and broader socio-economic impacts,” concluded Hariyadi.
With the ‘seven bags’ they now carry home, palm oil farmers from Aceh are not only better prepared to face challenges but also more confident in looking towards the future of their plantations with a professional and sustainable approach. (T2)
