InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Partnerships in the palm oil sector are emerging as a critical focus to enhance plantation productivity, particularly among smallholder farmers. Equal collaboration between farmers and plantation companies is seen as essential for building effective partnerships. Intensive communication between both parties, especially in plasma plantation areas, is vital to achieving shared objectives.
Technical assistance plays a crucial role in these partnerships, ranging from determining land coordinates to avoid overlaps with forest areas, to completing important documents such as personal identification and land certificates. Here, the role of plantation companies becomes indispensable, as their capacity and networks can support cooperative empowerment and farmer training.
One concrete example of corporate support is the provision of high-quality seedlings for the Smallholder Palm Oil Replanting Program (PSR). Superior seedlings are considered a cornerstone of success for this initiative. With goodwill and effective collaboration among companies, the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), and local governments, the PSR program can accelerate its implementation.
However, challenges in managing plantations often pose obstacles for farmers. Irregularities in fertilizer use and harvesting practices can impact productivity. Thus, partnerships with companies are expected to introduce more efficient and structured management practices.
Transparency is also a critical aspect of these partnerships. Cooperation must be built on principles of equity and mutual benefit to ensure both parties receive fair advantages.
For readers interested in learning more about partnerships in smallholder palm oil replanting or facilitating community plantation development, the Focus section in the October 2024 edition provides an in-depth analysis.
In addition to partnerships, the edition covers the replanting process, emphasizing that it cannot be carried out haphazardly. Key steps include ensuring the availability of high-quality seedlings and conducting careful land measurement and mapping.
The feature also highlights ways to utilize land during the pre-harvest phase of palm oil plantations. Intercropping, or planting other crops alongside palm oil, can provide additional income while waiting for the plantation to reach peak productivity. Readers can explore this topic further in the Spotlight section of the October 2024 edition. (T2)
