“The challenges in Papua are different from other places. Here we face very complex social problems. There are many unclear territorial boundaries between family members and tribes, so we have to fulfill many requirements to expand palm oil commodity,” ANJ Palm Oil CEO Geetha Govindan said.
“We are not begging you, because our country is bigger than yours. We will be the world’s fourth largest economy by 2045-2050,” said Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to European Union.
Although palm oil is the country’s largest earner, the small farmers still receive low wages, arbitrary and bad treatment, and in many cases, especially for hired day laborers, no contracts.
Esselink explained that the EU is currently experiencing confusion and dilemma related to palm oil consumption. “The EU is also aware that palm oil is important, but they have to do something for they are questioned by many parties,” he said.
Fadhil Hasan said EU’s palm oil import ban will not cause fluctuation in palm oil prices because the amount of EU palm oil consumption is relatively small compared to the total world demand for palm oil.
UK supermarket Iceland is to stop palm oil consumption by the end of this year. The decision draws criticism as the move is not considered as a long-term solution to reduce deforestation or protect the environment.
Accelerating Indonesia’s palm oil sector is urgent amid the relentless pressure from overseas, but many observers warn that the endeavor will face two serious problems which would not be easy to overcome quickly.
A major Indonesian palm oil company shares the premium it gets from selling its sustainable palm oil in international markets, with the plasma farmers who supply it with the fresh fruit bunches.
“The president should not be burdened by technical matters. The other ministries should contribute in helping to accelerate the implementation of the ISPO,’ Nasir said.
Greenpeace has denied accusations from an indigenous Papuan community in a Jayapura district that it had interfered in the management of the local forest.