Welfare of Plantation Farmers in These 10 Provinces Was Highest Nationally in November 2021

The welfare of Indonesian smallholder plantation farmers in West Kalimantan (Kalbar) is the highest in Indonesia. This is reflected in the Farmer's Plantation Exchange Rate Index (NTPR) in the province, which is higher than in other provinces.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the Kalbar NTPR was at 166.77 in November 2021. This means that the welfare of farmers in the province increased by 66.77% from the beginning of the index calculation, namely 2018=100. This NTPR figure is higher than the national NTPR, which stands at 130.28, and is the highest among other provinces.

The increase in commodity prices, especially palm oil prices, which have risen in line with increasing global demand, has had a positive impact on the welfare of smallholder plantation farmers in the province with Pontianak as its capital. As is known, Kalbar is one of the largest palm oil producers in Indonesia.

The next province with the highest smallholder plantation farmer welfare is East Kalimantan, with an NTPR of 166.45. This is followed by Riau with an NTPR of 159.62, then North Sumatra with 159.45, and Bengkulu with 157.96.

Other provinces with the highest smallholder plantation farmer welfare are West Sulawesi with an NTPR of 157.33. Following are Central Kalimantan with an NTPR of 151.9, Jambi with 148.75, and North Kalimantan and Bangka Belitung Islands with 145.59 and 142.12 respectively.

An NTPR > 100 indicates that smallholder plantation farmers experience a surplus, or that farmer income is greater than expenditure. An NTPR = 100 indicates that farmers break even. While an NTPR < 100 indicates that farmers experience losses, or that farmer income is less than expenditure.