InfoSAWIT, NORTH ACEH– Chairman of Serikat Petani Kelapa Sawit (SPKS) Aceh Province, Abubakar AR did visit to Village of Alue Rimee, Sub district of Purak Timu, Regency of North Aceh, Wednesday, 14 August 2024. It was known as one village that would massively have palm oil plantations of independent smallholders that SPKS North Aceh developed.

The visit was about to discuss with the local smallholders to encourage sustainable cultivation in Indonesia particularly to implement ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) program and develop the infrastructures. Many independent smallholders welcome the visit and fully supported the program. “We do support it to welfare us,” Head of Village of Alue Rimee, Mansur said to InfoSAWIT, Friday (16/8/2024).

In the field visit, Abubakar did see the massive potential in some locations. They could be passing the terms and conditions to propose sustainable proram. He thought, the smallholders in the village planted about 6 – 14 yeara old – plantations. They were productive and laid on the same overlay.

He also visited the border of the village where there was new planting through smallholders replanting program (SRP) by PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) I Cotgirek. The program itself that involved the operational cooperation with PTPN IV, laid on about 108 hectares in the village.

Mansur was worried about that PTPN would claim that the smallholders’ plantations would be part of the company’s business rights. “We are curious when the company has had business rights in our village,” he said.

To respond it, Abubakar would immediately check business permit detection application in his phone and found that the smallholders’ plantations were not parts of the company’s business rights. He suggested the smallholders to stay calm and be patient. He promised to get the real status of the areas from National Land Agency (NLA) Aceh Province.

“SPKS would be ready to know and advocate the smallholders in Aceh. In this very short, we would send official documents to NLA Aceh Province to get audience to confirm the business rights status,” he said.

If it is proven that PTPN Cotgirek develops palm oil plantations out of its business rights, SPKS would send official documents to Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial/NLA to solve the case so that the smallholders would not get losses.

He also explained to the villagers about the plantation company’s obligation as regulated in the Laws Number 39 / 2014 about Plantation that regulated, every company both the enterprise and private should conduct fasilitas pembangunan kebun masyarakat sekitar (FPKMS) 20% from their business rights.

“Insya Allah, Village of Alue Rimee would have the big potential to get new palm oil plantations that the company would develop around the village freely as regulated in the laws,” Abubakar said. (T2)