Jakarta, 25 October 2018 – President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, and the Indonesian Minister of Trade, Enggartiasto Lukita, visited the Asian Agri and Apical booth at the 2018 Indonesia Trade Expo on October 24, 2018, where they heard about Asian Agri’s superior Topaz seeds.
Asian Agri’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Fadhil Hasan, shared with President Joko Widodo about the oil palm smallholders in Buatan, Riau, who participated in the replanting of oil palm plantations initiative in 2016, with Asian Agri’s assistance.
A total of 135 oil palm smallholders of the KUD Mulus Rahayu Cooperative used Asian Agri’s superior Topaz seeds for the replanting of their oil palm plantations covering 310 hectares, and they will have the first harvest this November.
Asian Agri has been assisting the smallholders throughout the replanting – from the preparation phase until their oil palms are ready to harvest – including providing them with training on how to earn alternative income during the replanting period.
The first harvest which is expected to be carried out by the KUD Mulus Rahayu oil palm smallholders lends support to the sustainability of the palm oil industry in Indonesia.
Besides raising farmers’ productivities and incomes, the oil palm replanting upholds the sustainability of Indonesian palm oil which is environmentally-friendly and competitive in the international market.
***
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 |
