REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SAMPIT -- Most large oil palm plantation companies in the district of Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, have responded positively to the campaign promoting sustainable system in plantation management.

"We are pleased that large plantation companies have welcomed the program to introduce sustainable system of plantations. One of the companies is PT Uni Primacom. We hope that all plantation companies would join the program," an executive of the Unit Management Program (PMU) of Kemitraan Andi Kiki said here on Thursday. 

Kemitraan (Partnership) is a non profit institution established in 2000 by the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) and civil society activists and donor agencies. The Institution is formed to facilitate networks and cooperation involving various parties to create just, democratic and sustainable system of government in Indonesia.

Kemitraan has cooperated with the district administration of Kotawaringin Timur since 17 August 2016 in promoting sustainable plantation business. The locus of work under that cooperation is in carrying out plantation partnership system, handling of conflicts over lands, conservation of plantation land, and initiation of multiparty cooperation to develop sustainable plantations.

Sustainable plantation system is to create and maintain balance between business interest and the environment and natural preservation as well as to prevent potential conflicts between plantations and local people and reduce negative impact on the environment. 

Manager of Kemitraan of the Musirawas Group which includes PT Uni Primacom, Irfan Hafid, said the company welcomes the program of developing sustainable plantation business, saying it is in line with the company's program. In fact the company has implemented the system although there are still a lot to be improved. 

"We hope that our presence would bring about positive impact on the people and preservation of the environment. The local people have seen how we have always offered them help in providing what they need," Irfan said.

So far the company has been in partnership with the people in various forms such as plasma farms, by buying the farmers' production in harvest time, transport service, etc. Assistance is provided for the people in opening plantations such as by providing seedlings with certificate , transfer of knowledge and in management of plantations.

The country's palm oil industry has been accused of damaging the environment by the European Parliament linking the industry to corruption , human right abuses and employment of children, and calls for boycott of palm oil from Indonesia.

The Indonesian government rejected to accusation which it called was motivated by business interest over competition between palm oil and other vegetable oils.

Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil, which is among the country's main export earners outside oil and gas.

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