Creating Resilient Oil Palm Growers at Asian Agri’s Training Center

But, there was something unusual amid the scorching heat of Riau today. In Mekar Jaya, a village in Kabupaten Pelalawan, Riau, a group of young people in white and brown uniforms were seen walking together enthusiastically to an oil palm plantation area. While walking, the young people asked questions actively to the mentor and tried to answer various questions directed at them. Consisting of 100 talented young people, they are the new batch that will undergo training at the APRIL Asian Agri Learning Institute (AAALI), a top training center in the country for the plantation sector, particularly oil palm. These potential young people were selected from various universities in Indonesia based on their abilities and intelligence. There are not many oil palm training institutions (non-universities) that accommodate the abilities of talented young people in the plantation sector, especially oil palm, in this country. Although the average planting age of oil palm has reached 30 years, the level of knowledge and abilities of Indonesian palm oil farmers and plantation owners is not as mature as the age of the trees there, when compared to the productive age of humans. Realizing this, AAALI aims to facilitate the nation's sons and daughters to obtain additional guidance and knowledge related to the oil palm industry, so that they are more familiar with this prima donna plant of Indonesia. Of course, those who have studied at this training center are aware that the training institution at AAALI is the best place for young plantation owners who want to pursue a career in an industry that supports the economy of this country with 250 million people to develop and learn. Every year, AAALI always opens registration for new participants, divided into three groups. Each group consists of about 100 people. The cadets, the name for AAALI training participants, will be given various training for 6 months. Not only training, the participants will also be given salaries every month, adjusted to the average minimum wage in each province. The salaries will increase to three times the amount if the participants are accepted as permanent employees at Asian Agri. As employees at Asian Agri, they will carry out the tasks and responsibilities of managing plants, and handling operational aspects in the company. Participants who will join will also play a role in the upstream to downstream oil palm management process. They will also be introduced to and be responsible for the processing process using machines, and even accommodation affairs. There are many companies who have tried to recruit AAALI graduates with offers of very high salaries so that they will move to their company. “I am very proud to be selected to participate in this training, and I hope that I can join Asian Agri as an employee when I finish this training," said Muhammad Yusuf, a graduate of the agricultural engineering program from the University of North Sumatra, Medan. “My senior who is a graduate from AAALI told me that when I graduate later, my standard of living will increase. There will be so many companies that will try to attract us with offers of very high salaries," he continued. Sufryiadi, supervisor of AAALI acknowledges the statement. He explains that the image of the AAALI training institution is indeed very well-known in the eyes of oil palm companies. This has also been passed on to the AAALI graduates, which have been targeted by so many companies. He admits that he was offered by many companies to move and join them. Not only that, Sufryiadi was also offered a salary much greater than what he was receiving at that time. “Other plantation companies see us, the graduates, as human resources with qualified abilities, with very good attitudes and mindsets," he said. The AAALI training institution was founded in 2002. Up to now, AAALI has successfully produced more than 2200 top graduates that are spread throughout various industries in Indonesia. This achievement represents Asian Agri's commitment to develop the potential abilities of its human resources. This achievement and success cannot be separated from the role of the top trainers who patiently teach and guide the participants every day. Not only supported by the top trainers in their field, AAALI is also complete with researchers and experts from various top universities in this country, who enthusiastically train the best children to become qualified experts. “Here, we train them to become the best plantation owners with modern technology and complete knowledge of the plantation industry, particularly oil palm. Besides providing knowledge and improving abilities, we also instill the importance of discipline and having a good mindset about values and the practice of sustainable principles so that they can be planted in their hearts and minds," said Sufryiadi. As an industry that is often accused of being a company that does not practice sustainable businesses, the AAALI curriculum proves that Asian Agri always upholds its commitment to menjalankan responsible business and paying attention to sustainable aspects. A real step that can be seen is how Asian Agri is preparing its front lines very fervently, namely prospective employees as the main investment of the company with attitudes and sustainable business mindsets in accordance with the company principles. Back to Pelalawan, Yusuf hopes that he can make a positive contribution to the company and be able to apply the various knowledge that he has learned during the training. Yusuf comes from a simple family in Mandailing Natal in North Sumatra and explained his family situation, where his father is now too old to work, and his family now depends on the income of his mother who sells food near a market in his hometown. "I want to make my parents proud of me," he said. Yusuf also expressed his desire to be able to replace his mother's role as the breadwinner of the family someday. "Now, I can already help my family with the salary that I receive now," said Yusuf. In line with Yusuf's story, Sufryiadi stated that the good image that AAALI has as the best plantation training institution in Indonesia can be a magnet for new graduates, particularly new graduates from top universities in the provinces of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and also Sulawesi like Yusuf, to join. “We have the best graduates right now from all over Indonesia, who are ready to learn and contribute, and return it for the progress and development of the country," said Sufryiadi. (Adv)