HST Publish Plantation Location Permit

By Ulul Maskuriah

Barabai, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - The Central Hulu Sungai (HST) Forestry and Plantation Agency issued license of oil palm and rubber plantations covering an area of 20 thousand hectares to PT Globalindo Nusantara Lestari to encourage partnerships with farmers.

Head of the agency, Syaiful Bahri, said location permit was granted for three years for a period of socialization, making of land, office construction, local recruitment at the same location and planning the nursery.

Although this location permits for oil and rubber, the company is expected to prefer the cultivation of rubber, as 

it is in line with the program of local government.

According to Syaiful, currently quite extensive rubber plantations should be rejuvenated, in order to improve the 

welfare of farmers and improve the quality of rubber in the HST.

Rubber quality in HST has declined, because most farmers still grow local varieties, so the results are not optimal. 

When planting super seeds, farmers fear of losing their livelihoods, because they have to wait for the new seedlings 

to grow big.

"Given the location permits oil and rubber is expected to encourage partnerships between businesses and rubber 

farmers," he said.

Farmers can be hired as an employee with a salary of minimum wage standards, so as to support their families while they were rejuvenated garden with a core pattern or plasma.

However, companies should take care permit environmental impact assessment ( EIA ) and IUP used to South Kalimantan Plantation Agency. "Without the EIA and IUP, the company will not be able to plant oil palm," he said.

Additionally, employers are forbidden to plant oil palm in swampy areas or potential land rice plants, but specifically 

in the field above.