Government promotes downstreaming of palm oil

Head of the Indonesian Presidential Staff Office, Teten Masduki, said that the government has a strong commitment to the palm oil sector. "We all know that palm oil has proven to contribute positively to the economy by generating foreign exchange, absorbing employment, and advancing the economy in remote regions," he said in a press release received by KONTAN during the Celebration of the 2nd Century of the Bogor Botanical Garden in the Bogor Botanical Garden, Thursday (18/5). According to him, during the global economic slowdown, palm oil is a lifesaver for Indonesia. In fact, downstream palm oil processing is not yet optimal because up to now Indonesia still relies on exports in the form of crude palm oil (CPO). Therefore, said Teten, the government asked business actors to immediately carry out downstream palm oil industry. Because with downstream processing, the added value of the palm oil industry will be felt by the Indonesian people. Entrepreneurs will get additional profits, while the government's burden will be reduced because this downstream will absorb a lot of workers. In addition to the commitment to encourage downstreaming of palm oil products, Teten said, the government is also committed to fighting to convince the European Union that oil palm cultivation in Indonesia has been in accordance with the principles required by the laws in force in Indonesia. With this step, it is hoped that the European Parliament, which accuses Indonesian palm oil of being closely related to the issues of human rights violations, corruption, child labor and the elimination of indigenous people's rights, will fade. "I think the resolution of the European parliament is not appropriate. Because the Indonesian government, through the regulations issued, has encouraged oil palm cultivation practices to follow environmental and nature conservation principles," he said. General Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Joko Supriyono at that event handed over Dura Deli oil palm planting materials to the Head of the Bogor Botanical Garden Plant Conservation Center, Didik Widyatmoko. The seedlings are the result of a selection carried out by the Palm Oil Research Center (PPKS) in a structured manner since the early 1900s. This Dura plant is the parent tree (mother palm) for producing superior oil palm seeds. Currently, the generation of Dura Deli used in the seed production process at PPKS is the sixth generation since 1848. "Genetically, this Dura is a descendant of a Dura tree planted in the Bogor Botanical Garden in 1848," said Didi Widyatmoko. The history of oil palm in Indonesia began with four seedlings introduced from Bourbon or Mauritius in February 1848 by DT Pryce. While the other two seedlings were introduced from Amsterdam in March 1848. The four oil palm seedlings were then planted in Buitenzorg Botanical Garden (Bogor Botanical Garden) in 1848. Starting from four seedlings planted in the Bogor Botanical Garden, now oil palm has developed into an important industry in Indonesia. The commercial development of oil palm in Indonesia was built in 1911 by M Adrien Hallet, a Belgian citizen in eastern Sumatra, covering Pulu Raja (Asahan) and Sungai Liput (Aceh). http://m.kontan.co.id/news/pemerintah-dorong-hilirisasi-minyak-sawit