Bisnis Indonesia, 16 January 2019
The Agriculture Ministry is optimistic that they can achieve the replanting target of 200,000 hectares of smallholders’ oil palm plantations. Annual Plant and Refreshment Director Irmijati Rachmi said on Monday (January 14) that the ministry last year had issued 169 recommendation letters for 33,800 hectares of smallholders’ plantations so that the smallholders could receive the replanting fund. In total, the government has replanted 48,634 hectares of smallholders’ plantations since 2017.
Agriculture Ministry Plantations Director General Bambang said that the ministry might be able to replant 200,000 hectares of plantations this year, considering that the synergy between the ministry and related institutions has improved. Meanwhile, Oil Palm Farmers Union (SPKS) Chair Mansuetus Darto said on Tuesday (January 15) that the government had only disbursed Rp390 billion fund to replant 15,600 hectares of smallholders’ plantations.