Similarly, good news for the people who make a living as palm oil farmers has slowly but surely started putting a smile on their faces. To some extent, just a few weeks ago the rubber price was priced at only Rp 5,000 for every kilogram, yet for almost a week now, the selling price was broken through Rp 6,000 to Rp 7,000 per kilogram.
Similarly, the selling price of palm oil nearly reached Rp 2,000 per kilogram, whereas in previous weeks it was still stuck at a little more than Rp 1,000.
Eben, one of the rubber farmers from Bandar Petalangan District, started showing his true nature, always smiling broadly. Yet, before the rubber prices went up, the father of three had trouble meeting his household needs. Eben even did prostrations of gratitude for the improved rubber prices, one of the livelihoods he has had for the past dozen years.
"Alhamdulillah has started to show a price increase graphic on rubber at the level of small-time brokers. Usually, once I harvest (tap) this rubber I can only collect around Rp 200,000 to Rp 300,000. Yet, the selling price this week had an increase to around Rp 400,000 and Rp 500,000. This means that buying rice is now at a safe level or is covered by the increased prices,” said Eben, a resident of RT 04, Lubuk Terap Village, on Thursday (14/4).
Eben added that with the prices of basic goods that had already climbed with the low commodity prices for rubber and palm oil, people were really complaining and had to be smart to find a way around the current high cost of living. Ideally, rubber prices are at Rp 10,000 per kilogram and palm oil around Rp 2,500 per kilogram, then Eben and the palm oil farmers will certainly always smile happily.
Aguspuri Tampaludin, a palm oil farmer, also diligently started taking care of his two-hectare oil palm plantation, due to the selling price starting to go up. Usually, with the low selling prices, he was not able to buy fertilizer and other living necessities. He hoped that the prices continue to rise or at least can hold steady at the level of Rp 2,000 per kilogram.
"If the palm oil prices are below a thousand, then the plantation most definitely will not be cared for, because fertilizer is expensive. Hopefully the prices will gradually improve and living necessities can continue to be met,” said Tampal, who has two children. ***
http://www.bumn.go.id/ptpn5/berita/16854/Harga.Karet.dan.Sawit.Membaik
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