InfoSAWIT, SINTANG – Efforts to protect independent palm oil farmers in Sintang Regency are taking a major step forward. The Sintang Regency Government, together with the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) of West Kalimantan, held a harmonization meeting for the Draft Regent Regulation (Raperbup) on Partnerships for Independent Palm Oil Plantations.
The meeting took place in the Yasonna H. Laoly Meeting Room at the West Kalimantan Kemenkumham Regional Office and was opened by the Head of the Legislation and Legal Development Division, Zuliansyah. He emphasized that this regulation aims to provide legal certainty for farmers. "Palm oil is a valuable asset that drives regional development. However, we must also protect smallholder plantations so they are not overwhelmed by large companies," he said, as reported by InfoSAWIT from the West Kalimantan Kemenkumham Regional Office on Friday (22/8/2025).
The Head of the Sintang Regency Agriculture and Plantation Office, Martin Nandung, stated that the drafting of the Raperbup is a follow-up to Sintang Regional Regulation No. 6 of 2023. Data from 2024 shows that private company plantations in Sintang cover 208,000 hectares, while independent smallholder plantations are only 33,000 hectares. "This Raperbup is expected to clarify the partnership relationship between companies and independent farmers while ensuring community welfare," Martin explained.
The harmonization process was dynamic, with various participants providing input, including representatives from the Sintang Regency Government, the West Kalimantan Provincial Government, NGOs such as WWF Indonesia and Rainforest Alliance, and law students from Tanjungpura University. Key issues raised included whether the regulation would specifically govern independent plantations or also plasma plantations, and its implications for companies' obligations to develop plasma plantations.
The meeting concluded with an agreement that the Sintang Raperbup on Partnerships for Independent Palm Oil Plantations has completed its harmonization phase. The next steps will be the issuance of a Meeting Minutes and a Harmonization Completion Letter, marking the final stage before its official enactment. With this regulation, the position of independent farmers is expected to be more strongly protected, while also creating a fairer partnership environment between the community and palm oil companies in Sintang. (T2)
