The palm oil industries are still maintaining their normal operations as before amid the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
“Until now, the oil palm plantations and palm oil mills are still safe from the Covid-19 pandemic and they keep conducting their operations normally,” the Indonesian Palm Oil Association’s (GAPKI) Communication Division Chairman Tofan Mahdi said on Tuesday, 4 Mei 2020.
“GAPKI has not received any reports of any obstacles on the field. Therefore, the palm oil industries are still safe until now from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
He said that unlike the previous obstruction in the industry, the current condition facing the palm oil industries is different. It is because the demand for the crude palm oil (CPO) as food stuff is very high. Even the current price of CPO is far better than the price in 2019.
Tofan Mahdi pointed out that with the implementation of tight protocol of Covid-19, the palm oil producers are optimistic that the palm oil industries will be safe from the pandemic.
“We all hope that this pandemic will end soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, GAPKI Jambi Office Chief M. Tidar Bagaskara also pointed out that there has been no significant impact of the Covid-19 against the palm oil industry so far.
The price of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) is still good. The price fluctuation in Jambi province still follows the national trend, and it is not because of the Covid-19 impact. As of Monday, the price of FFB is between Rp1,400 and 1,600 per kilogram.
“Its condition is still very healthy,” he said, adding that Gapki Jambi has not yet received any information on termination of operations or cases of layoffs from any member of the total 160 oil palm plantation companies operating in Jambi,
“Thanks God. Hopefully, our condition will stay good, although we’re facing a difficult situation,” he said.
Despite the fact, the palm oil producers have applied a tight protocol in the stage of maintenance, harvesting, and processing. Besides, GAPKI Jambi has been also active in communication with the regional government to fight the outbreak of Covid-19.
“Considering that the palm oil is part of the main staple foods, we also in coordination with the regional government to ensure there is no obstacle in distribution of the CPO,” he said. According to him, with the smooth distribution of CPO, the palm oil business will stay in good condition.
“The support is important as the palm oil industry is the economic backbone of the people in Jambi,” said M. Tidar Bagaskara. (*)
Source: nasionalisme.co | Picture via aarp.org
