Indonesia, Aug. 11 -- Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono has urged plantation-sector cooperatives to own and operate crude palm oil (CPO) mills to strengthen palm oil downstreaming and boost added value for farmers.

Speaking at the National Seminar on Cooperative-Based Palm Oil Optimization and Downstreaming here on Tuesday, Juliantono said active cooperatives located around palm plantation areas need to take on a bigger role in strengthening the palm oil industry supply chain.

Juliantono said accelerating cooperative-based palm oil downstreaming requires support from various parties, especially state-owned PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara, which has a government mandate to manage palm plantations recovered by the Forest Area Enforcement ...