PALMOILMAGAZINE, BATUBARA — A total of 61 independent oil palm farmers from Batubara Regency, North Sumatra, participated in a field trip to PT Eastern Sumatra Indonesia Bukit Maraja Estate, managed by the SIPEF Group, as part of the 2025 Human Resource Development Program for Oil Palm Plantations (SDM PKS).
The visit marked the culmination of a four-day intensive technical training program in Medan, organized by Koompasia Enviro Institute (KEI). The training featured interactive methods and hands-on learning tools, providing participants with comprehensive insights into oil palm cultivation.
Henry Marpaung, Director of KEI, emphasized that the main objective of the training was to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.
“By witnessing the best practices firsthand, farmers can better understand how classroom knowledge is implemented on the ground,” he explained in a statement to beige-heron-208544.hostingersite.com (Thursday, June 26, 2025).
During the field trip, the farmers observed various stages of oil palm cultivation, from nursery practices and land preparation to the management of immature (TBM) and mature (TM) plantations.
Franki N. Simatupang, Senior Manager for Smallholders at SIPEF, affirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of independent smallholders across Indonesia. He cited SIPEF’s success in supporting three farmer organizations in South Labuhanbatu, which have now achieved RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification.
“We’re fully committed to collaborating with farmers under the 2025 SDM PKS program. It’s not just about improving cultivation techniques, but also embedding sustainability principles,” Franki stated.
Echoing this support, Aandrianto, Senior Regional Manager for Simalungun and Serdang Bedagai, said that SIPEF had deployed a team of agronomists to guide participants throughout the site visit and ensure effective knowledge transfer.
One participant expressed his appreciation for the program:
“This training has been incredibly valuable. What we learned in the classroom became much clearer when we saw it applied in the field. It opened our eyes and motivated us to improve our farms.”
This program exemplifies a strong partnership between the private sector, training institutions, and farmers to enhance human capital in the palm oil industry. By combining theoretical learning with practical exposure, the initiative empowers independent farmers to boost productivity while adopting sustainable practices in their plantations. (P2)
