Heaptalk, Jakarta — The Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) of East Kutai held a joint outcome evaluation workshop that focused on collaboration to support sustainable palm oil plantations in East Kutai. The workshop was opened by the Assistant for Administration and General Affairs of the Regency Secretary Zubair at the Hotel Royal Victoria Sangatta (11/08).
This workshop is a form of synergy between the East Kutai Regency Government, East Kalimantan Provincial Government, and the central government to encourage the development of sustainable oil palm plantations, specifically in monitoring and evaluation of the implementation.
According to Zubair, the essential concept of sustainable plantation has been applied long ago. “We maintain the sustainability of oil palm plantations with a modest concept. The natural resources can still be utilized and sustained as well as the forest and the environment are not disrupted,” said Zubair representing the Regent of East Kutai.
The workshop activity is considered necessary by providing a forum for sharing information to make a positive contribution to the sustainable oil palm plantations in the area. According to Zubair, the activity proved that all elements have their respective roles in development.
“Developing the East Kutai community contributes to all Indonesian people as well. Alleviating poverty in East Kutai is also eradicating poverty in Indonesia,” said Zubair.
A representative of the Plantation Office of East Kalimantan Province Asmirilda attended the workshop as a resource person. According to Asmirilda, the Plantation Office continues to hold meetings and workshops to strengthen the joint commitment to support sustainable smallholder oil palm plantations in East Kutai. “Today the achievements of our colleagues show extraordinary results as five out of eleven agreements were 100% achieved. The remaining agreements need strengthening efforts,” said Asmirilda.
The management of sustainable palm oil plantations focuses on aspects of land legality, management of plantation business permits, strengthening Indonesia’s sustainable palm oil (ISPO), and strategies to deal with the increasingly massive negative issues against palm oil.
The Ministry of Agriculture has issued an ISPO sustainable palm oil plantation development regulation through the Ministry of Agriculture No. 11 of 2015 on ISPO. The regulation must be implemented by palm oil companies to protect the environment, increase economic, and social activities, and enforce Indonesian laws and regulations in the palm oil sector. The preparation of the ISPO certification system refers to 139 regulations ranging from laws to regulations of the director general of various government agencies.
