InfoSAWIT, BANDA ACEH – A total of 88 palm oil farmers from Aceh Tamiang and Aceh Timur participated in a five-day technical training on palm oil cultivation in Banda Aceh. Notably, this training was not just theoretical; farmers were directly engaged in best practices in the field—from selecting superior seeds to effective harvesting techniques.
The training, held from July 8 to 12, 2025, is part of the Palm Oil Human Resource Development Program 2025, a collaboration between the Palm Oil Fund Management Agency (BPDP), the Directorate General of Plantations (Ditjenbun), and IPB Training.
"Farmers should not only be taught theory in the classroom. They need to see firsthand how best practices are applied in the field," said Dr. Hariyadi, M.S., a trainer from IPB Training, in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Hariyadi emphasized the importance of selecting superior seeds as the foundation for a productive plantation. He noted that many farmers still purchase seeds without knowing their quality. "We teach how to identify ideal superior seeds—at least nine months old, 125 cm tall, and with 18 fronds. These are the basic requirements," he explained.
In addition to theory, participants were also taken to three locations of PT Agro Sinergi Nusantara's plantations, from the seedling area to the producing plantation. At these locations, farmers not only observed but also actively discussed with plantation managers and technical practitioners.
"Seeing it firsthand allows farmers to know which seeds are good and which are not. This cannot be adequately explained through slide presentations," said Dudi Sumantri, Head of Operations at PT Agro Sinergi Nusantara.
During the field practice, participants were shown effective harvesting methods, techniques for handling Plant Pest Organisms (OPT), and post-harvest processes that meet standards.
This activity involved three training batches, namely Batch III, IV, and XIV, with a composition of 61 participants from Aceh Tamiang and 27 from Aceh Timur. The main goal is to equip farmers with skills to cultivate palm oil productively and sustainably.
Mukhlis, SP, MA, Head of Extension and Human Resource Development at the Aceh Agriculture and Plantation Office, reminded the importance of monitoring the entire process, from seed provision to pest and disease control. "This training is crucial to understand thoroughly. It is a foundational capital so that farmers do not fall behind in technology," he stated during the opening of the training on Tuesday, July 8.
One of the key materials emphasized was the concept of the "Seven Bags" in palm oil cultivation, which includes: legality, productivity, quality, continuity, sustainability, traceability, and profitability.
"If we only chase harvest results, that is not enough. Agricultural efforts must meet all these aspects to be truly sustainable," explained Hariyadi. He hopes that after this training, farmers will become independent business actors who are quality-conscious and environmentally responsible.
Participants appeared enthusiastic throughout the training, with many expressing that it was their first time learning directly how the modern palm oil industry is managed from upstream to downstream.
This program also represents a concrete step by BPDP and IPB Training to strengthen the human resource capacity in the palm oil sector in Indonesia. With more directed and applicable knowledge, farmers are expected to sustainably increase productivity and make the Aceh palm oil sector more competitive in the future. (T2)
