InfoSAWIT, MERAUKE – Koperasi Serba Usaha Iska Bekai started planting palm oil plantations for the smallholdes in some villages in Distrik Ngguti, Regency of Merauke, Province of South Papua since the late of July 2024. It also started by constructing hub way to the plantations and the villages around.

Abraham E Yolmen, Chairman of Koperasi Iska Bekai said that the chiefs of tribe and the local figures had socialized and agreed with the plan, including from Distrik Okaba where it was directly in border with Distrik Ngguti. Regent of Merauke and 17 tribes around the project location supported it.

As in the official statement to InfoSAWIT, Thursday (29/8/2024), the new planting runs with the borders in business rights of the union and got approved from the local peop;le. Kristianus K Nasemhe, the Chairman of The Imo fully supported the project with the hope, the indigenous people would get the advantages from palm oil plantations.

Koperasi Iska Bekai that was established to support the indigenous people of Papua’ welfare, cultivated about 20% of the main palm oil plantations. The project covered plasma plantation development as the implementation of Padiatapa/FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent), and three villages supported it.

The operation of the plasma plantations should escalate the economic sustainability of the indigenous people, support the rights of economy, social, and cultural fulfillment for the indigenous people. Koperasi Iska Bekai would be committed to confirm social and economic sustainability for the indigenous communities in Papua through the infrastructure development, palm oil plantation development, empowerment initiatives in economy, social, and health. (T2)