Nature Alert: Govt to make country world`s biggest palmoil producer

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Govt to make country world`s biggest palmoil producer

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - Agriculture Minister Suswono said here on Saturday the government would continue to strive to make Indonesia the world`s biggest palmoil producer.

"Palmoil is one of the commodities the state is relying on for foreign exchange income. So far the commodity has contributed a lot in increasing the state`s foreign exchange reserves," he said.

He said the country`s palmoil exports in 2007 reached US$8.87 billion and they rose up 39.5 percent or US$12.38 billion in 2008.

The minister made the remarks at the handing over of participants of a retooling program to oilpalm plantation companies.

He said the agriculture ministry had cooperated with the ministries of education, manpower and the association of palmoil producers to develop human resources to support the development of palmoil agribusiness.

He said the government was aware that palmoil companies needed human resources who were ready to work for industrial development.

On the other hand, he said, many university graduates could not as yet meet the competency needed by the companies.

In view of that he said the agriculture ministry since 2008 conducted a retooling program for university graduates to meet the need of palmoil companies.

After participating in the program for a month the university graduates were immediately absorbed by palmoil companies. "The result is satisfactory and in 2009 the agriculture ministry would continue the program for university graduates who are not yet employed," he said.

The minister that day handed over the program`s participants to 11 palmoil companies.(*)

http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1258211563/govt-to-make-country-worlds-biggest-palmoil-producer

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.