InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA –Serikat Petani Kelapa Sawit (SPKS) appreciated the message from President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the opening ceremony of Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) 2018 & 2019 Price Outlook, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Monday (29/10/2018).

SPKS thought, there were many messages to palm oil industries in Indonesia, such as, to increase the plantation productivity, accomplish the complicated procedures for the smallholders when proposing the replanting program, the cheap fresh fruit bunch and the are certification for the smallholders.

Sabarudin of SPKS told that every side should support sustainable plantation by increasing the productivity rather than enlarging more areas. “From what the President said, Indonesia has over production. In the other word, the production increases while the demand decreases and yet the CPO price is in fluctuation. It needs to improve by improving the governance better,” he said in the official statement to InfoSAWIT, Tuesday (30/10/2018).

He also said that his side asked the government to simplify the proposal process to replanting program easier. It happened for the registration process to have replanting program takes some time. The smallholders should fulfill kinds of administration that they are difficult to do.

“In his speech, the President told that it (process to get replanting program) should be simplified. The most important thing is that its accountability or responsibility,” he said.

SPKS also told, the messages from Mr. President were to Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (PFMA) and Ministry of Agriculture. He continued that his side wants that PFMA, namely in the replanting program, should give its authority to Ministry of Agriculture, namely Directorate General of Plantation.

“Ministry of Agriculture understands palm oil and the institution has access to the plantation agencies in the province, district and city. Giving the authority to PFMA would make the smallholders’ plantation come to unproductive,” he said.(T2)