CONTRIBUTION OF INDONESIAN OIL PALM PLANTATIONS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: HIDAYAT AHMAD WAHYU , SUTARTO  , ANDRIANTO  , SAPUTRA RENDY , ZAHRA DWI NOVIATUL , FAJAR IBNU 
Published: December 2023

This research will describe how the contribution of the Indonesian palm oil industry to sustainable development both economically, socially and environmentally. Oil palm is the main plantation commodity in Indonesia and is now one of the world's main sources of vegetable oil. The area of oil palm plantations in Indonesia continues to increase rapidly, until 2021 it reaches 15 million ha, the intense competition between vegetable oils has led to many black campaigns and accusations of being a driver of deforestation in Indonesia. The research method used is descriptive empirical research, by analyzing the history of oil palm plantations in Indonesia and the relationship between the development of Indonesian oil palm plantations with the economy, social and environment. Based on satellite data studied by Gunarso, it was revealed that the origin of Indonesia's oil palm plantations was mostly from degraded land, and only 3.4 percent was converted from primary forest. This proves that oil palm plantations as the main driver of deforestation in Indonesia are not true. In the economic aspect, the palm oil industry contributes in generating foreign exchange, regional development and has succeeded in creating middle-income farmers. In the social aspect, the oil industry plays a role in rural development and poverty alleviation and equitable distribution of economic development, as well as increasing income inequality and development. In the environmental aspect, oil palm plantations contribute to sustainable development through their role in absorbing CO2 and producing O2, as well as increasing land biomass.

Penyelidikan ini akan menerangkan bagaimana sumbangan industri kelapa sawit Indonesia kepada pembangunan mampan sama ada dari segi ekonomi, sosial dan alam sekitar. Kelapa sawit merupakan komoditi perladangan utama di Indonesia, dan kini merupakan salah satu sumber utama minyak sayuran dunia. Keluasan ladang kelapa sawit di Indonesia terus meningkat dengan pesat, sehingga tahun 2021 mencecah 15 juta ha, persaingan sengit antara minyak sayuran telah menyebabkan banyak kempen hitam dan tuduhan sebagai pemacu penebangan hutan di Indonesia. Kaedah kajian yang digunakan adalah kajian deskriptif empirikal, dengan menganalisis sejarah perladangan kelapa sawit di Indonesia dan hubungan antara pembangunan ladang kelapa sawit Indonesia dengan ekonomi, sosial dan alam sekitar. Berdasarkan data satelit yang dikaji oleh Gunarso, didapati bahawa asal usul ladang kelapa sawit Indonesia kebanyakannya daripada tanah terdegradasi, dan hanya 3.4 peratus ditukar daripada hutan primer. Ini membuktikan bahawa ladang kelapa sawit sebagai pemacu utama penebangan hutan di Indonesia adalah tidak benar. Dalam aspek ekonomi, industri sawit menyumbang dalam menjana pertukaran asing, pembangunan wilayah dan berjaya mewujudkan petani berpendapatan sederhana. Dalam aspek sosial, industri minyak memainkan peranan dalam pembangunan luar bandar dan pembasmian kemiskinan dan pengagihan pembangunan ekonomi yang saksama, serta meningkatkan ketidaksamaan pendapatan dan pembangunan. Dalam aspek alam sekitar, ladang kelapa sawit menyumbang kepada pembangunan mampan melalui peranannya dalam menyerap CO2 dan menghasilkan O2, serta meningkatkan biojisim tanah.