Prabowo Wants Farmers to Benefit More After B50 Launch, Here's Why

President Prabowo Subianto has stressed that farmers must be the ones who benefit most from the palm oil downstreaming policy, marked by the launch of the B50 Biodiesel programme. He described the programme’s success as a strategic government move to strengthen national energy security while simultaneously increasing the added value of the palm oil industry. The President wants to ensure the policy direction remains pro-farmer, aiming to make them the most advantaged and prosperous group from the palm oil downstreaming process. “This is our collective effort. Today is a historic milestone. Our farmers will continue to increase their income. We will succeed when our farmers live better lives,” Prabowo said at the B50 Mandatory Biodiesel launch in Karawang, West Java. He noted that the positive impact of government policies is already being felt in the regions. Based on reports he received from several provinces, farmer welfare is showing an upward trend, reflected in increased purchasing power. “I also received reports from various provinces that our farmers’ purchases of motorcycles and cars have increased by tens of percent,” Prabowo stated. The President added that improved welfare is also evident from the growing number of farmers able to perform the umrah pilgrimage and offer sacrifices. “This means they now have money. This is the goal of our development, our people must be prosperous,” he asserted. Prabowo stressed that the government will never accept a situation where Indonesians live in poverty while the nation possesses abundant natural resources. Therefore, all downstreaming policies, including palm-based biodiesel development, are directed to ensure the economic benefits return to the people, especially farmers. “We must not be inferior. We cannot accept that our people should be poor. We are a rich country, and our people must enjoy that wealth,” he said. He also expressed appreciation to researchers, academics, and all parties who contributed to the development of national biodiesel, encouraging continued innovation so Indonesia can progress further after the successful implementation of B50.