MEDAN, InfoSAWIT – The Aceh Singkil Regency Government is preparing hundreds of additional independent palm oil smallholders to participate in the next phase of the Palm Oil Human Resources Development (SDM PKS) Program, following the successful completion of technical training by an initial group of 93 farmers.
The six-day training, held on July 6–11, 2026, at Hotel AIHO Medan, was funded by Indonesia’s Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Plantations under the Ministry of Agriculture. The program was organized by PT Koompasia Enviro Institute to strengthen farmers' technical skills and promote more productive, efficient, and sustainable palm oil cultivation.
A total of 93 participants were divided into three training batches of 31 farmers each. Throughout the program, participants completed 48 hours of intensive classroom instruction, group discussions, simulations, and field practice.
Acting Head of the Aceh Singkil Agriculture and Plantation Office, Nirwana Angkat, said the overwhelming response from local farmers reflects the growing need for technical capacity building across the regency's palm oil sector.
"Farmers have been waiting for this program because the knowledge gained can be directly applied in their plantations. We are now preparing the selection process for hundreds of additional participants to join the next training phase," Nirwana said in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (July 14).
According to her, improving the productivity of smallholder plantations depends not only on quality planting materials and balanced fertilization, but also on farmers' ability to implement recommended cultivation practices consistently.
The curriculum covered land suitability assessment, land preparation, nursery management, immature and mature palm maintenance, pest and disease control, and balanced fertilizer application. Participants also attended practical sessions at Verdant Bioscience PT Timbang Deli Indonesia, allowing them to observe Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in real plantation conditions.
Henry Marpaung, Director of PT Koompasia Enviro Institute, emphasized that the program's success will ultimately be measured by how effectively participants apply the knowledge after returning to their communities.
He added that each graduate is expected to become a knowledge multiplier by sharing best practices with fellow farmers, thereby extending the benefits of the training beyond the initial participants.
The program concluded on July 11 after all participants completed both classroom and field sessions. Through continued collaboration between the central government, local authorities, BPDP, the Directorate General of Plantations, and training institutions, the SDM PKS program is expected to produce more professional palm oil smallholders while improving productivity and farmer welfare in Aceh Singkil. (T2)
