The implementation of health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is the focus of Asian Agri so that operational sustainability in plantations and palm oil mills is well-maintained. Bernard Riedo, Asian Agri’s Director Sustainability & Stakeholder Relations discussed about sustainable palm oil management in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic with journalists in a virtual gathering last June.
Also present at the event was an Indonesian Economist, Dr. Fadhil Hasan, who reviewed the impact of the pandemic on Indonesian palm oil commodities. “Before the spread of Covid-19, palm oil production was estimated to have a slow growth. There were at least two factors that caused this including the impact of El-Nino 2019 which resulted in the decline of fruit quality. The fruit did not ripen quickly and the weight also decreases. Second, related to the low prices for most of 2019 which caused financial difficulties, especially smallholders”, he said.
In-line with the new normal application, Asian Agri, which operates in North Sumatra, Riau and Jambi Provinces, continues its commitment to sustainability. “We implement health protocols in both plantations and CPO mills in accordance with Government policy,” Bernard said.
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