Palm Oil Remains Top Exported Commodity

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Agricultural Ministry's Plantation Directorate General, Gamal Nasri, said that palm oil is a commodity production with the largest export in Indonesia.

"Palm oil along with cacao, rubber and sugar cane have become Indonesia's leading exports," he said at his office on Friday, May 16.

The four commodities have contributed US$29.5 billion to the nation's income. "Around 60 percent or approximately US$19.5 billion came from palm oil business," he said. The commodity, according to Gamal, is very profitable from the business side considering that its demand is very high on the market.

However, he admitted that the business is prone to generate criticisms, more so in the environmental community. "Palm oil is never planted in prime forest regions, but operates in secondary forests that the Forest Ministry has released their ownership," he said.

Gamal’s statement is different with data that was disclosed by Zenzi Sihadi, Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI) forest campaigner, who said that there are approximately more than 200 palm oil companies that are operating in forest regions. "The number is only in Riau and Central Kalimantan that have massive expansion of palm oil plantations," he said.

RAYMUNDUS RIKANG R.W