BPDP and Aspekpir Drive Food Security Through Palm-Based MSMEs in Paser

The Palm Oil Fund Management Agency (BPDP), in collaboration with Aspekpir Indonesia, is driving the strengthening of food security through the empowerment of palm-based MSMEs in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan. The programme, held on 12-13 May 2026, featured practical training in processing palm leaves into livestock feed to support the Cattle and Palm Oil Integrated System (SISKA), as well as the production of biochar and the utilisation of empty fruit bunches at an MSME scale.

Centred in Sawit Jaya Village, the event was attended by hundreds of participants, including plasma palm oil farmers, representatives from palm oil cooperatives, and MSME entrepreneurs from various areas within Paser Regency. The Head of the Paser Regency Plantation and Livestock Office, Djoko Bawono, noted that the training received high enthusiasm as it presents new business opportunities based on palm waste.

Djoko stated that the Paser Regency Government appreciates BPDP’s support in developing the smallholder palm oil sector, ranging from the Palm Oil Replanting Programme (PSR) to human resource development and farmer training. He noted that Paser was the first region in East Kalimantan to develop smallholder palm plantations since the 1980s, and thousands of hectares of old plantations in the area have already participated in the PSR.

Anwar Sadat, Senior Analyst of the Community Cooperation and MSME Division at BPDP, emphasised that the agency continues to strengthen its role in national palm sector development through strategic programmes. He explained that funds collected from palm oil export levies are returned to the people through development and empowerment programmes. These include the PSR, which provides funding of up to Rp60 million per hectare, as well as palm oil scholarships and support for research and downstreaming to increase national industrial value.

Aliyadi, Chairman of the East Kalimantan Regional Representative Council of Aspekpir, praised BPDP’s support for empowering farmers through biomass-based MSMEs. He noted that innovations such as producing biochar and livestock feed from palm leaves, alongside the SISKA system, are concrete steps in increasing the capacity of plasma farmers and providing sustainable solutions to increase income while protecting the environment.