InfoSAWIT, MEDAN – Strengthening human-resource capacity remains a key priority in efforts to improve the productivity and sustainability of Indonesia’s smallholder palm oil sector. Through the Palm Oil Plantation Human Resources Development Program (SDM-PKS), 60 smallholders from Aceh Singkil Regency took part in technical palm oil cultivation training in Medan from August 3-8, 2026.
The program was supported by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) and the Directorate General of Plantations (Ditjenbun), with the training organized by PT Koompasia Enviro Institute.
The participants were divided into Training Groups VII and VIII. The program combined five days of classroom instruction with one day of field practice at PT Amal Tani – Tanjung Putri Plantation.
The training was officially opened by the Head of the Aceh Provincial Agriculture and Plantation Agency, represented by Mukhlis. Participants were encouraged to use the program to strengthen their technical knowledge and skills and apply the lessons directly in their own plantations.
“Not everyone has the opportunity to take part in training like this. Therefore, make the most of this opportunity to broaden your knowledge of good and proper palm oil cultivation,” Mukhlis said, according to an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday, August 11.
The SDM-PKS program is intended to strengthen the capacity of smallholder plantation workers and farmers. Improved technical competency is expected to help smallholders become more professional, productive and independent while adopting better and more sustainable cultivation practices.
Training Links Classroom Lessons With Field Conditions
Henry Marpaung, Director of PT Koompasia Enviro Institute, said the training was designed to go beyond theoretical instruction. Participants were also encouraged to connect the lessons with actual conditions in their plantations.
“We want to ensure participants do not simply understand the concepts, but can also see how cultivation principles are applied under real conditions. That is why we complemented the learning process with discussions, teaching aids and practical sessions,” he said.
Koompasia Master Trainer Arfian Syahputra said the learning approach was developed around the practical challenges commonly faced by independent smallholders.
“Participants do not simply receive theory. They are also encouraged to discuss problems they encounter in their plantations and see how those principles are applied through field practice,” Arfian explained.
The program was also monitored and evaluated by Dewi Wulandari of the BPDP SDMP Committee. She emphasized that participants’ commitment throughout the training was important to ensure the knowledge gained could be implemented after they returned to their plantations.
Dewi also praised the active and interactive learning process. Participant engagement in discussions and practical activities, she said, was important in ensuring that the training material could be properly understood and translated into actual plantation practices.
Smallholders Expected to Apply New Knowledge
Support for the program also came from the Acting Head of the Aceh Singkil Plantation Agency, who said local smallholders had responded positively to the training.
The enthusiasm shown by participants also reflected the continuing need for capacity-building programs among palm oil smallholders in Aceh Singkil, particularly those who have not previously had access to technical training.
Nina, one of the participants, said the training provided an opportunity to gain new knowledge while reassessing cultivation practices that had previously been applied in the field.
“We gained a lot of new knowledge during the training. We now have a better understanding of good and proper palm oil cultivation. We will certainly take this knowledge home and apply it in our plantations,” she said.
The field practice at PT Amal Tani – Tanjung Putri Plantation was an important component of the program, allowing participants to connect classroom lessons with actual cultivation practices. It also gave them an opportunity to discuss plantation issues relevant to their own conditions.
With support from BPDP and Ditjenbun and implementation by Koompasia Enviro Institute, the training is expected to translate into practical improvements at the plantation level. Strengthening smallholder skills could ultimately contribute to higher productivity, greater efficiency and more sustainable palm oil production in Aceh Singkil. (T2)
