Floods Recede, Aceh Palm Farmers Still Struggling to Restore Plantations

One of the most noticeable changes is access to the plantations. Several routes were temporarily blocked due to landslides, while bridges near the land also collapsed. This situation has prevented harvests from being transported as usual. “If we start working right away, we could end up in trouble. The soil is still unstable, with many roads still covered in mud,” said Masri (40), a palm oil farmer in Pidie Jaya, Aceh, to detikcom. Similar conditions are experienced by farmers in other areas of Aceh and Sumatra. The plantations still show remnants of the flood, harvest routes have not fully recovered, and daily activities are proceeding with adjustments. Amid these limitations, palm oil farmers continue to care for their plantations. They arrive, inspect, clean, and harvest as much as possible. There is no fixed schedule, no major targets. What exists is simply endurance to continue daily activities.