InfoSAWIT, MAMUJU – West Sulawesi Plantation Agenccy did conduct a meeting to decide August 2024 performance 'P' index and fresh fruit bunch (FFB) price produced by the smallholders in the province. It was at Berkah Hotel, Mamuju, Friday (9/8/2024), led by the Secretary of West Sulawesi Plantation Agency, Andi Sitti Kamalia that represented the Head of West Sulawesi Plantation Agency, Herdin Ismail.

The meeting was also attended by many representatives from Plantation and Livestock Agency Regency of Pasangkayu; Agriculture and Food Security Agency Regency of Mamuju Tengah, and West Sulawesi Police Department. The meeting focused on 'P' index that many plantation companies proposed that became FFB Price Decision Team members and based on the Regulation of Minister of Agriculture Number 01/PERMENTAN/KB. 120/1/2018 which the goal would be about to protect the planters to get normal FFB price and prevent unhealthy business competition among plantation companies.

In her speech, Andi Sitti Kamalia emphasized it would be significant to decide 'P' index to be accurate so that FFB price would be competitive to support the planters and smallholders' welfare. In the meetingg, it was decideed that the 10 - 20 year old FFB in August 2024 would be Rp. 2.595,83/kg. It gets more expensive Rp. 48,43/kg from July 2024 that was Rp. 2.547,40/kg.

Head of West Sulawesi Plantation Agency, Herdin Ismail said the better price was the result from 'P' index decision, the whole market evaluation, and FFB quality. "We do understand, the changing price would have something do do with the smallholders' income," Herdin said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from the official page of West Sulawesi Plantation Agency, Sunday (11/8/2024).

Herdin hoped the smallholders would positively get the price and keep coordinating with the agency to get the same goal in developing palm oil plantations in the province. He continued the price decision would be about to maintain the interest balance between the smallholders and industries to keep operating. (T2)