Eco-Tourism with Palm Oil Plantation Part 2

Even though the palm oil plantation is the largest in the world, reaching more than 12 million hectares and consumes processed palm oil products everyday, namely cooking oil, there are still many who do not know that the palm cooking oil used originally came from palm fiber and not from palm fruit meat or palm kernel. The majority still thinks that oil from palm oil is the same as oil from coconut, that is, from the meat of the fruit. Although oil from palm fruit can also be produced, namely palm kernel oil or PKO (palm kernel oil), but the amount is small, which is only about 10% of CPO and its use is also not for cooking oil, but for cosmetics, soap, oleochemicals and sources of vegetable fats . One of the highlights of palm kernel oil is its high lauric acid content, and this is almost the same as coconut oil. In addition to the two ingredients above lauric acid is also found in mother breast milk. And lauric acid has many health benefits, for more details, please read here. Currently palm kernel oil is also more widely used than coconut oil as a source of lauric acid.

Meanwhile, what is called palm oil is identical oil derived from its husk (mesocarp fiber) which is also commonly called CPO (crude palm oil). CPO is the most produced oil from the processing of palm oil fruit or fresh fruit bunches (FFB). When we hear about palm oil mills, this is also identical to CPO mills, although PKO mills are also palm oil mills, for reasons as above. CPO mills are also far more in quantity than PKO mills, this is because not all CPO mills have PKO mills. So that the kernel produced from the CPO mill is sent to the PKO mill to be processed into oil (PKO). At present almost 1000 palm oil mills or CPO mills are in Indonesia, a very large number and should be familiar with Indonesian people in general. But apparently there are still many people and even students who do not know the potential of Indonesia.

The palm oil business in Indonesia also contributes quite significantly to the country at around 3% of GDP so that it also receives a lot of support from the government. In addition, the development of palm products is also very open and Indonesia is still underdeveloped, with the indication that the exported products are still dominated with CPO or crude palm oil, while exports should be in the form of downstream products ready for consumption or at least intermediate products so as to provide more added value big for Indonesia. If these conditions can be understood so that various development strategies are carried out both from the upstream sector, namely the plantation sector to the downstream sector, namely the processing industry, the contribution of this business for the country will be even greater. For example the palm oil business in Malaysia has contributed to around 7% of Malaysian GDP.

 If the Indonesian people understand the problem above, it will be easier to find a solution. Insha Allah. Students should be introduced to the palm oil business in Indonesia both from upstream to downstream so that in time it can be expected to map out the problem as well as provide a solution. The strategic palm oil industry in Indonesia should be well introduced to future generations so that their future role in this industry can be continued and added. Environmental-based educational tourism to plantations and palm oil mills as an initial medium to introduce this potential to them.

Eco-Tourism with Palm Oil Plantation

"The Muslims are syirkah (shariah business cooperation) in three ways, in terms of grasslands (land), water and fire (energy)". (Hadith narrated by Sunan Abu Daud)

Food, energy and water (FEW) is a matter of essential material for human life. The next generation and children must be introduced and understood about this. Among the many subjects taught in school, the topic of discussion about FEW must also receive an adequate portion. At the macro level, we witness that a country and nation will not be independent and sovereign if they are unable to be independent and sovereign in the affairs of the FEW. By introducing it from the beginning, the true understanding of FEW will be embedded both for human biological life and for its strategic role in the world arena.

Indonesia is the largest palm oil producer in the world with the plantation area more than 12 million hectares, palm oil production (both CPO and PKO) reaching more than 40 million tons / year with more than 1,000 CPO mills. As an effort to inculcate FEW's understanding, palm oil plantations can be used as educational facilities which are packaged into eco-tourism for palm oil plantations. Palm oil producer regions can make eco-tourism. The location of palm oil plantations that are easy to access, high in productivity, well cared for, the scenery is beautiful maybe with the presence of lakes, water fall and so on and equipped with various facilities and infrastructure to support the excellent development of eco-tourism.

Students in non-palm oil production areas, such as in Java, Madura, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, are still many who do not know about palm oil trees, although every day they eat fried foods using palm oil. Whereas in most of these areas the majority of Indonesia's population is located or densely populated areas. If children and the next generation do not know the potential of their country, of course this is very unfortunate. It is hoped that by visiting the eco-tourism of palm oil plantations, students and future generations will become more open-minded and more concerned about maximizing it. With visits to these tourism objects, they can see how palm oil is planted, maintained until it continues to be able to produce and still pay attention to environmental aspects to industrialization and provide benefits so that it becomes a profession of choice for some people and contributes to the country.

The palm oil plantation eco-tourism is also a medium to fight against the palm oil black campaign which is currently mostly carried out by western countries. In addition, the promotion of palm oil can also be done in these tourism objects. In addition to domestic tourists, especially students, these attractions can also attract tourists from overseas. With good tourism management, the expected goals can be achieved. Currently halal tourism (Halal Tourism / Islamic Tourism) has also begun to be promoted, and environmentally friendly tourism of palm oil plantations can become part of halal tourism. Islamic-based tourism management is not only limited to material worldly goals, but also gives blessings and blessings from Allah SWT which has an afterlife (akhirat) dimension.