InfoSAWIT, KUTAI BARAT – Balai Kampung Mencimai in Barong Tongkok sub-district was bustling with dozens of palm oil farmers on August 21–22, 2025. They were attending a training session organized by the East Kalimantan Provincial Plantation Office (Disbun Kaltim), aimed at transforming the mindset of palm oil farmers from mere field laborers into drivers of a modern economy.
The event, titled "Guidance and Empowerment of Plantation Farmer Groups 2025," was opened by the Acting Head of Disbun Kaltim, represented by agricultural extension worker Roni Helpani. In his remarks, Roni emphasized that palm oil remains a leading commodity with great potential to improve the welfare of the Kutai Barat community.
“Palm oil produces not just oil, but also hope. However, we need improvements in institutional management, increased productivity, and a more structured marketing governance,” Roni said, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Disbun Kaltim on Monday (25/8/2025).
A total of 20 farmers from the Sinar Tani I Farmer Group participated in the training. They were taught the importance of a strong farmer group as a platform to increase their bargaining power in the market. The training material, delivered by instructors Teguh Harianto and Bastianus Zaevi, focused not only on cultivation techniques but also on institutional strategy to ensure farmers can withstand global market challenges.
Roni stressed that the transformation of palm oil farmers will not be achieved without a change in mindset. “Togetherness, trust, and collective work are the keys. If the mindset changes, farmer institutions will be more active, productive, and can bring real prosperity to their members,” he stated.
Disbun Kaltim is committed to providing continuous guidance through officials at the provincial, regency, and field levels. The hope is that the Sinar Tani I Farmer Group can become a success story for palm oil farmer transformation in Kutai Barat—not only productive in the field but also institutionally resilient and prosperous socio-economically. (T2)
