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<\/p>\nJAKARTA \u2013 The Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Board (BPDPKS) has allocated this year a total fund of Rp5.4 trillion to finance the program of replanting smallholders\u2019 oil palm plantations and breeding program of oil palm seedlings.<\/p>\n
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BPDPKS President Director Eddy Abdurrachman said that with the fund of Rp5.4 trillion the government will provide a financial assistance of Rp30 million for every hectare that included in the replanting program of 180,000 hectares being targeted by the agriculture ministry this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cBPDPKS was established in 2015. So far, we\u2019ve given a total fund of Rp8 trillion for replanting. This year alone we\u2019ve allocated Rp5.4 trillion to replant a total of 180,000 hectares of smallholders\u2019 oil palm plantations. We hope all of the fund can be absorbed so that the replanting target can be achieved this year,\u201d Eddy Abdurrachman said on the sidelines of the plantation expo (BUNEX) 2023 which was held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition BSD Tangerang Selatan, Banten, on 7-9 September 2023.<\/p>\n
He said that to get the financial assistance from the BPDPKS, the smallholders have to fulfill a number of requirements. \u201cThe requirements are stipulated in the agriculture minister\u2019s regulation (Permentan). The smallholders should file their replanting proposal through their local institutions, such as cooperatives, to the agriculture ministry\u2019s plantation directorate general, which will then issue technical recommendations. It is based on the recommendation that the BPDPKS will provide the financial assistance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said that to support the replanting program, BPDPKS has also established a collaboration with the plantation directorate general to implement the program of breeding oil palm seedlings. \u201cThrough this breeding program we want to prevent or at least minimize the distribution of low quality seedlings that are usually uncertified,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve conducted socializations on the breeding program and the need for quality seedlings among smallholders. We\u2019ll ensure the distribution of the quality seedlings among the smallholders who will take part in the replanting program,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
During the event, the plantation directorate general, in cooperation with \u00a0BPDPKS and the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), launched the application of plantation seedlings bank (BABEBUN). The application is designed to make sure that superior seedlings stored in BABEBUN are certified and meet the need of smallholders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll ensure that the oil palm seedlings that we use are really qualified and certified,\u201d GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono said.<\/p>\n
Eddy Martono underlined the importance of quality seedlings for the success of oil palm cultivation. The productivity of oil palm during its productive period of 25 years is heavily dependent on the quality of seedlings.<\/p>\n
\u201cOil palm trees have a typical commercial lifespan of 25 years. During that period their productivity is highly dependent on quality seedlings. We prioritize the certified ones that are produced by companies recognized by the government. GAPKI\u2019s member companies that are in partnerships with smallholders will control the seedlings used for the replanting. We also involve in the seedling breeding program, and we\u2019ll keep supervising on daily basis,\u201d said Eddy Martono.<\/p>\n
During the three-day Bunex 2023, the agriculture ministry underlined the very important role of palm oil for the national economy of Indonesia as the world\u2019s largest producer and exporter of palm oil products. The palm oil industry is the largest contributor of foreign exchange for Indonesia, where it employs directly and indirectly 18 million people. (*)<\/p>\n