Gov’t to Speed Up Palm Oil Replanting Program

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto delivers a statement after a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, Tuesday (02/27). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday (02/27) chaired a limited cabinet meeting on policies regarding palm oil.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the implementation of palm oil replanting program.

“The realization of palm oil replanting that has been achieved is 30 percent of the targeted 180,000 [hectares]. One of the obstacles is regulations. The President has ordered us to review Regulation of Minister of Agriculture, particularly the provisions regarding land certificate and recommendation from Ministry of the Environment and Forestry for the replanting,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said after the meeting.

Airlangga said that the participants of the meeting also discussed the increase of the replanting fund from Rp30 million to Rp60 million per hectare.

Regarding the obstacle for smallholder farmers, Airlangga reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to speed up the implementation of Job Creation Law to address the problems.

Airlangga further said that the Government has a plan to order the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) to provide scholarships for planter families, as part of the Government’s measures to improve the welfare of smallholder planters.

Airlangga further said that the meeting would be followed up by concrete actions to resolve the existing problems.  (FID/UN) (RI/MMB)