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JAKARTA — The oil palm growers across the palm producing provinces have been facing rampant thefts of oil palm fruit bunches (FFB) during the last few months.
A number of local media have reported that growers are particularly worried over the thefts in the main producing regions in North Sumatra province, Riau province, Jambi province, South Sumatra province, South Kalimantan province, East Kalimantan province and West Kalimantan province during the last few months.
The latest palm thefts were reported from Central Kalimantan, where growers are increasingly worried over the rising theft cases. One of the theft cases was committed by hundreds of people in Suka Mandang village of Seruyan Tengah district of Seruyan regency in Central Kalimantan.
The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Central Kalimantan Office Vice Chairman Siswanto hopes that the security forces and the government will take all necessary quick steps to deal with the rampant theft cases.
“It’s a crime. We ask the law enforcement officers to take decisive actions in tackling the theft cases and prevent them from reoccurring in the future,” said Siswanto in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.
Dayak Customary Defense Alliance (BATAMAD) Commander Yuandrias said that all stakeholders should collaborate to tackle the rising palm theft cases. “Local governments, business players, security forces, and Dayak people should meet to find a solution for the problem,” Yuandrias said in Palangka Raya on Sunday, 3 December 2023.
He said that without a synergy and consistency of all stakeholders in dealing with the widespread thefts, the theft cases will keep reoccurring in the oil palm plantations.
Yuandrias hopes that the stakeholders will find a thorough solution to stop the crimes in the oil palm plantations. “The crimes should be stopped to prevent financial losses for oil palm smallholders and companies. That way we secure the investments in our regions that will then improve the welfare of local people,” said Yuandrias.
The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) North Sumatra Office Head Timbas P. Ginting said in Medan that the rampant theft cases were suspected to have caused by the operations of palm oil mills without having own oil palm plantations in the regions. He asked the government to tighten the licensing process of developing palm oil mills without having own oil palm plantations.
“Without having own palm plantations, the palm oil mills will not only rely on supply of palm bunches from local oil palm smallholders, but also those supplied illegally by local people,” he said.
According to him, it is very easy for investors to develop palm oil mills. “They can get their licenses easily through the online single submission (OSS), which is operated by the investment coordinating board (BKPM) and investment ministry. They can develop and operate their mills without a requirement to have their own oil palm plantations,” Timbas said on Tuesday, 07 November 2023.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Chairman Eddy Martono said in Jakarta that GAPKI had issued a circular letter to all member companies across the country, asking them not to purchase the illegal palm fruits or as proceeds of crimes.
“All oil palm plantation companies, members of GAPKI or not, should not accept or purchase the illegal palm fruits,” reads the circular letter, which is signed by GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono.
Eddy Martono said that purchasing the illegal palm fruits will only increase the theft cases of palm fruits, and the buyers are potential to be implicated in the criminal cases. (Combined from many sources)
Source: gapki.id
