Jakarta – The accusation of General Secretary of Ministry of Forestry, Hadi Daryanto, saying that palm oil farmers as part of deforestation was criticized by Palm Oil Farmers Federation (POFF).

Coordinator of POFF, Mansuetus Darto, Wednesday (7/5/2014), said what Hadi accused Forests Asia Summit conference, 2014, in Hotel Shangri-La, Jakarta, Tuesday (6/5/2014) was completely wrong and should not be addressed to the farmers as the deforestation doers.

He also explained, the Ministry of Forestry prohibited the banks to give credits for the farmers and it was not fair. “There are lots of palm oil companies planting in the forest regions for they got the licence from Ministry of Forestry,” he said.

He thought, the government did not monitorize and there was “game” among the regional government, Ministry of Forestry and the businessmen. Beside that the licence of the forest utilization keeps running on though the moratorium has been existing since 3 years ago.

According to the regulation of Secretary of Agriculture No 98 / 2013, the farmers just cultivate palm oil not more than 25 hectares. And if they want more, they have to have Plantation Business Licence to get Right to Utilize.

“Partnership farmers get 20 % and the companies get 80 %. Independent farmers enlarge or utilize the area by having governmental licence. (T3)