InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — The Gabungan Pengusaha Pertanian & Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit Indonesia (Gaperkasindo) has officially been established as an organization representing palm oil plantation entrepreneurs in Indonesia.
This organization accommodates various stakeholders, ranging from small and medium-sized plantation owners to service providers related to palm oil. The existence of Gaperkasindo is expected to accelerate the realization of sustainable palm oil plantations while supporting national food and energy self-sufficiency programs.
Gaperkasindo's Chairman, Hasyari Nasution, explained that the organization has a grand vision to create competitive palm oil plantations through farmer empowerment, local economic development, and national welfare improvement.
“Our members consist of various elements, from small and medium plantation owners, fertilizer and agricultural supply companies, to training, consulting, and palm oil processing industry development service providers,” Hasyari stated in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Sunday (January 12, 2025).
Currently, Gaperkasindo has the largest membership in palm oil centers such as Aceh, North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and South Sulawesi. The organization also plans to establish regional management bodies to expand its reach and support for its members.
In its efforts to support the sustainability of the palm oil industry, Gaperkasindo has designed various strategic programs, including promoting the accelerated implementation of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification and integrated supply chain management.
Additionally, the organization aims to provide input to the government regarding policies and strategies for food and energy-based palm oil development, facilitate the implementation of carbon trading in palm oil plantations, and assist in the acceleration of the rejuvenation program for smallholder palm oil.
Furthermore, Gaperkasindo plans to develop service and product standards related to palm oil to support sustainability and enhance the positive image of national palm oil through the promotion and socialization of environmentally friendly cultivation practices.
“We are also committed to supporting government programs through training and human resource development to improve the productivity of smallholder plantations,” Hasyari added.
Hasyari emphasized that Gaperkasindo is ready to be a strategic partner for the government in developing a sustainable palm oil industry. “Our presence is expected to bring a new perspective to the national palm oil sector, especially in addressing global challenges related to sustainability and the positive image of Indonesian palm oil,” he concluded.
With the establishment of Gaperkasindo, Indonesia now has a new platform to strengthen the role of the palm oil industry in supporting economic growth and environmental sustainability. (T2)