Oil palm plantations are often cited as a dominant factor in the recent disasters on the island of Sumatra. Several experts say that oil palms or oil palm plantations are the source of these disasters because these monoculture crops damage the soil, which in turn is unable to retain water, causing massive flooding.
However, oil palm farmers reject this claim. One such objection was expressed by Misngadi, Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Union (Serikat Petani Indonesia/SPI) Riau, who is also a palm oil farmer.
According to him, it is not oil palm that damages the environment but rather corporate actions that are the primary cause.
Oil palm farmers, Misngadi said, cultivate only a few hectares of land at most. Meanwhile, corporations can own thousands, even tens of thousands of hectares. These lands are acquired by corporations, among other things, by encroaching on forest land. This is the source of the disaster.
