The Jakarta Post, 2 October 2018
Palm oil companies and smallholder farmers have expressed support for the government’s recent decision to halt the issuance of new permits for oil palm plantations. Indonesian Palm Oil Association Executive Director Mukti Sardjono said in Medan, North Sumatra, recently that he supported the Presidential Decree No. 8/2018. He said that his association was optimistic the moratorium would raise awareness on sustainable supply chains in the industry.
Meanwhile, North Sumatra-based My Palm Oil My Future Farmers Association Chairman Indra Muda Pasaribu said that he agreed with the moratorium as he believed it would bolster the relationship between smallholder farmers and private companies. He added that smallholder farmers are currently not looking to expand their farms any time soon.