MEDAN, InfoSAWIT – Ninety-three independent oil palm smallholders from Aceh Singkil Regency have returned home with new technical knowledge and practical skills after completing an intensive training program designed to improve plantation productivity and promote sustainable cultivation practices.
The six-day Technical Oil Palm Cultivation Training was conducted under the Palm Oil Human Resources Development Program (SDM PKS), funded by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Plantations (Ditjenbun). The program was organized by PT Koompasia Enviro Institute and held in Medan from July 6–11, 2026.
Participants completed 48 hours of classroom and field instruction, covering key aspects of oil palm management, including land suitability assessment, land preparation, certified seed selection, nursery management, maintenance of immature and mature palms, integrated pest and disease control, and balanced fertilization.
The training also incorporated interactive discussions and field practice at Verdant Bioscience PT Timbang Deli Indonesia, enabling participants to directly apply the techniques introduced during the sessions.
One participant, Superman, said the program challenged many long-held assumptions about traditional farming practices.
He explained that while many growers believed their cultivation methods were already effective, the training demonstrated several practical improvements that could significantly enhance plantation performance.
Beyond applying the new knowledge on his own farm, Superman said he intends to share the techniques with fellow smallholders in his village, helping to spread the benefits throughout the local farming community.
PT Koompasia Enviro Institute Director Henry Marpaung emphasized that the program's real success will be measured not by the duration of the training but by tangible improvements in participants' plantations after they return home.
He expressed hope that the knowledge gained by the 93 participants would continue to spread among other farmers, creating a broader impact on Indonesia's independent smallholder sector.
Meanwhile, master trainer Arfian explained that the training modules were specifically designed to match the conditions commonly faced by independent oil palm growers, making the lessons practical and easy to implement in the field.
Representing the Head of the Aceh Provincial Agriculture and Plantation Office, Mukhlis highlighted that strengthening farmers' technical capabilities is essential for improving productivity, reducing production costs, and ultimately increasing smallholder incomes.
The program concluded on July 11 after participants completed both classroom instruction and practical field exercises. Organizers hope similar initiatives will continue to produce more skilled, adaptive, and environmentally responsible smallholders capable of supporting the long-term sustainability of Indonesia's palm oil industry. (T2)
Source: InfoSAWIT.
