InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA -Chief of President’s Staff, Jenderal Purn. Moeldoko admitted that he does really understand the agricultural sector for always making discussion with the farmers (smallholders) in the field or with the experts to solve the agricultural and plantation issues. “Why? For I always listen to the smart people in every day,” he said.

Every issue that comes up in the agriculture could be immediately solved. For example, in palm oil sector, the partnership scheme is the future challenge.

It is not easy to run. For example, when the smallholders get some areas, they might sell the areas by saying, to buy daily needs. “It needs to think about the partnership scheme. The smallholders themselves are not as what we could imagine,” he mentioned.

The other issue is also about the fertilizer. We should not depend on fertilizer and there should be solution for the smallholders may have not good capital. Without routine fertilization, the productivity of palm oil plantation may not be optimal.

He also mentioned, it needs to notice the environmental issue, namely for the palm oil plantation that the smallholders cultivate. “And discipline the factories having not areas,” Moeldoko said. (T1)