InfoSAWIT, BANGKA – Some smallholders from Village of Bedengung, Sub district of Payung, Regency of South Bangka, Kepulauan Bangka Belitung Province, urged the legal officers to take legal action about smallholders replanting program (SRP) that might raise issues.
They said, there was miscalculation that reached up to billions of rupiah in SRP and budget plans that were decided. Hermanto, a smallholder of Village of Bedengung said, SRP that Gabungan Kelompok Tani (Gapoktan) Barokah Village of Bedengung conducted by the early of 2024 might corrupt the SRP implementation.
"The fund that reached up to Rp 1,5 billion for SRP in this village would actually cover 51 hectares but the fund might be corrupted. We urge the legal officers both the police, attorney, and other institutions to immediately investigate the case,” Hermanto said, as quoted from Bangkapos.com, Tuesday (2/7/2024).
He also said there was price gap on palm oil seeds. The seeds should really be sold at Rp 55 thousand per stalk while in the budget plans, it was written for Rp 65 thousand per stalk. The price gap was never returned to the smallholders. Besides, many palm oil trees that were cut off but not be chipped, some old trees still stand even though the fund was handed over to cut off the trees or to chip the falling ones. The fund given had been 100 percent.
“We are sorry that the third party may not verify and get field visit before handing over the fund. The fund distribution itself may have issue because it should be fully handed over after the work is done and based on the regulation,” he said.
The smallholders reported the case to Agriculture, Food and Fishery Agency Regency of South Bangka but there is no action until now. The cut off and chipping which did not qualify the work would be a loss for the smallholders. The late seed distribution would make the plantations full of bushes and the smallholders should do extra work.
“That is why we have to wait for the seeds. It is nearly eight months. Our plantations get back as bushes. The rats attack. This raised question, what happened with the development and supervisory team about this?” Hermanto said. (T2)
