InfoSAWIT, JAMBI –The persistance and hard work of his parents are still in his mind. The brave decision which his parents did as the participants of PIR Trans is the symbol of hard work. His hometown, Central Java was the best place to the memory of his young age.

His parents were from Kebumen, Central Java, wanted to change their luck to be smallholders through ‘PIR Trans’ program at the time. Having courage, his parents left their hometown and went to Jambi Province as transmigration participants.

Working in paddy field in their hometown, his parents were poor to earn three children who need proper life and good education.

“If I remembered the time, I always cried alone. The area we went to was so quiet and isolated,” he said.

His parents’ persistence in developing palm oil took Suhar as the oldest child to work though he was in younger age. He helped his parents to cultivate palm oil areas until he himself is interesting in to be smallholder.

As a smallholder, Suhar who is now 43 years old thought, he has got much advantage. Besides the economy, he also got the better social and environmental sectors. His parents could educate his brothers graduating the university level.

Suhar himself chose to earn his life as the smallholder, like his parents. The palm oil areas in SP 2 are parts of the ‘KelompokTaniHarapan Jaya’ which the members consist of 28 families of smallholder. The group is part of ‘KUD SuburMakmur’.

Starting from the ‘PIR Trans’ program in 1993, his parents conversed the areas to be palm oil in 1995. Getting two hectares of palm oil, and the total palm oil areas in the group, reaching 56 hectares, his parents’ palm oil areas now need replanting program.

Not every family joining the ‘PIR Trans’ program could survive. In his parents’ group, two families chose to go back. As time goes by, there were coming and go. Until now, there have been 8 families including himself to survive and it is continued by his children.

The ‘PIR Trans’ program, having loan from the banks, could be paid by his parents in 6 years only. The payment was faster than the period given by the bank, 10 years. The ‘KelompokTani’ got help from their partner, the palm oil plantation company.

PT IntiIndosawitSubur, as the smallholders’ partner, has helped all their needs, starting from the cultivation through Tim Unit Semprot (TUS) program, fertilization, and nursery of the trees.

Years before, they could get Rp 1 – 2 million per month per plot. As the time goes by and the increasing fresh fruit bunch (FFB) selling price, they now get about Rp 6 – 7 million/month/plot. The average FFB is about Rp 2 thousand per kilogram.

He thought, what he has got from the FFB selling is a grace. The success of palm oil plantation belonging to his family and helped by palm oil company are very helpful for the smallholders. Suhar thought, the cooperation should be increased more between both sides.

For almost 25 years cultivating the areas, Suhar’s parents are always developed by the company and get counseling and technical helps as the partners until the smallholders’ areas need replanting program.

“We are waiting for the replanting program done by the company to continue the cooperation to have more productive areas,” he explained. (T1)