InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The oil palm plant has become one of the main pillars of Indonesia's economy, playing a crucial role in supporting national food and energy security. This was stated by PalmCo's CEO, Jatmiko K. Santosa, during a discussion titled "Unveiling Palm Oil: Indonesia's Green Gold," organized by PTPN IV PalmCo in collaboration with Gadjah Mada Agro Expo, Faculty of Agricultural Technology UGM.
"Palm oil is a blessing," emphasized Jatmiko. According to him, palm oil not only provides significant benefits for businesses but also serves as a lifeline for the national economy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic that shook the world. "Indonesia was able to withstand the crisis thanks to palm oil," he added, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Antara on Thursday (December 26, 2024).
Jatmiko explained that palm oil derivatives have become an integral part of people's lives, ranging from food needs to energy sources. However, he also refuted various accusations that label palm oil as the primary cause of deforestation, ozone depletion, and water crises. "Data shows that from 1985 to 2023, the growth of oil palm plantation areas only accounted for 17 percent of the total non-forest area in Indonesia," he stated. Furthermore, a report from Global Forest Watch indicated that Indonesia's deforestation rate from 2015 to 2022 was among the lowest in the world.
Nevertheless, Jatmiko acknowledged that there are still plantation players who have not implemented sustainability principles. This, he said, poses a collective challenge for the government and industry players to ensure sustainable palm oil cultivation.
Economically, palm oil has an extraordinary impact. The industry has opened job opportunities for more than 16 million workers in 2023, a significant increase from 2.1 million in 2021. Additionally, palm oil farmers' incomes have been reported to be much higher compared to other commodities.
PalmCo, Jatmiko noted, is committed to improving farmers' welfare through programs such as palm rejuvenation, distribution of superior seeds, and intercropping rice. The company has distributed over 5.6 million certified seeds and launched a project for planting upland rice intercropped with oil palm in replanting areas.
Jatmiko concluded with a call for all parties to support sustainable palm oil cultivation in Indonesia. "Palm oil is a blessing for all of us. If we do not take care of it, who will?" he urged.
Through collective efforts, palm oil can continue to be a pillar of sustainable economic development for the Indonesian nation. (T2)
