Bali, 29 October 2018 – One of Asian Agri’s independent smallholder associations, Petapahan Maju Bersama, won an award in the Smallholder’s Plantation Productivity category which was handed over by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, during the 14th Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) in the Bali International Convention Center.
Petapahan Maju Bersama Association achieved the highest plantation productivity in a competition held by the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), which included the participation of cooperatives and oil palm farmers’ associations across Indonesia.
Petapahan Maju Bersama Association has been using Topaz seeds since 2008. The farmers were able to achieve an average yield of 22.16 tons/ha per year during the January to September assessment period, and their estimated productivity is expected to reach 30 tons/ha per year at the end of the year.
H. Suher, Head of Petapahan Maju Bersama Association, said this would motivate all members of the association to improve the productivity of their plantations further. “We were able to achieve this because of the efforts of all members who apply the best practices in managing their plantations, which we learned through our partnership with Asian Agri”, said H. Suher.
The Petapahan Maju Bersama Association, located in Petapahan Village, Riau, has partnered with Asian Agri since 2014. Currently, it comprises 129 smallholders who manage 361 ha of oil palm plantations.
Besides plantation productivity, plantation hygiene conditions and crop rotations are important aspects which are also assessed during the competition held by GAPKI.
“Through this award, we also hope to be able to invite other farmers to join us and become successful like us, by way of partnership programs”, said H. Suher.
Head of Partnership at Asian Agri, Pengarapen Gurusinga, said that partnerships with farmers should put farmers’ welfare first.
“The award received by the Petapahan Maju Bersama Association is one good example of achievement in partnership programs between farmers and companies which always focus on improving farmers’ welfare and sustainability aspects in oil palm management”, said Gurusinga.
About Asian Agri:
Asian Agri is one of Indonesia’s largest palm oil producers since 1979. Today, the company manages 100,000 hectares of land and employs over 25,000 people. A pioneer of the Indonesian government’s Trans-National Government Migration (PIR-Trans) program, Asian Agri works with 30,000 plasma smallholders in Riau and Jambi who operate 60,000 hectares of palm oil plantations, as well as independent smallholders, bringing about positive impact on their quality of life and economic development.
Implementing a strict “no burn” policy and best practices in sustainable plantation management, Asian Agri has helped its smallholder partners improve productivity, yield and supply chain traceability, while assisting them obtain certifications. The company’s mills are technologically advanced and energy self-sufficient, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Asian Agri is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). More than 86% of both owned plantations in North Sumatra, Riau & Jambi provinces and 100% of scheme smallholder plantations in Riau & Jambi provinces have been RSPO certified. All plantations, including those owned by smallholders, have been certified by ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification). More than 91% of plantations and mills owned by Asian Agri have been ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) certified.
The company’s operations are ISO 14001 certified, while its Learning Institute and nursery research center in Riau province, Indonesia are both ISO 9001 certified. Asian Agri’s R&D Center in North Sumatra was also given a certification by the International Plant-Analytical Exchange at the WEPAL lab at Wageningen University in The Netherlands, for its high standards.
For further information, please contact:
| Dinna Permana Setyani |
| Corporate Communication Manager |
| E-mail: DinnaPermana@www.asianagri.com |
| DID: (021) 230 1119 |
