InfoSAWIT, ACEH UTARA – The Indonesian Oil Palm Farmers Union (SPKS) held a meeting with oil palm farmers in Aceh Utara Regency on Monday (March 9, 2026), combined with an iftar gathering and donations for orphans.

The event also served as an opportunity to socialize a planned collaboration between SPKS and PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV (PTPN IV) aimed at accelerating the Smallholder Replanting Program (PSR).

The meeting was attended by SPKS National Chairman Sabaruddin, SPKS Aceh Chairman Abubakar, representatives from PTPN IV, as well as local farmers and community leaders.

Sabaruddin said the event was designed to strengthen relationships between the organization and farmers while providing important information on development programs.

“We hope activities like this can help oil palm farmers become more prosperous, particularly in Aceh Utara,” he said in a statement quoted by InfoSAWIT.

Administrative Challenges Remain

According to Sabaruddin, the cooperation with PTPN IV is expected to accelerate the PSR program, as many farmers still lack full understanding of the application process.

Farmers also face administrative hurdles, particularly requirements for official verification that their land is located outside forest areas.

“These documents often require considerable time and cost for farmers,” he said.

Through institutional collaboration between SPKS and PTPN IV, he hopes coordination with relevant authorities can be improved, making the PSR program more accessible to farmers.

The partnership will also include assistance for farmers to obtain sustainability certifications such as Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). (T2)