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Batanghari library - 

The Sumatra region is known as the world's producer of palm oil. This potential should be able to maximize the welfare of the community. That's not the case. The literacy factor is to increase oil palm productivity again.

This was conveyed by the Regent of Batang Hari, Muhammad Fadhil Arief when opening the talk show Improving the Community Literacy Index (PILM), Thursday (7/7/2022).
Palm oil production in Batang Hari is currently only seven quintals per hectare per month. Far from ideal conditions. Regent Arief believes that if the community has good knowledge and information, oil palm farmers in Batang Hari can produce three tons per hectare per month.
“The people of Batang Hari 82% work as oil palm farmers. However, it is the big companies that enjoy the results from palm oil,” said the Regent.
Therefore, Regent Fadhil advised oil palm farmers in Batang Hari to increase their knowledge. People must be aware and understand that anyone will be left behind if they adapt quickly. That is the importance of having the ability to acquire knowledge by reading.
"This is where the problem lies. Our farmer referee knowledge is not comprehensive enough. I don't know how to choose good seeds, how to plant well, clean the land well, and how to make fertilizer more effective and efficient," explained the Regent.
The presence of the library which was just inaugurated with the Deputy for Library Resource Development of the National Library of Indonesia, Deni Kurniadi, is expected to be a place that attracts the public. Loaded with a variety of contemporary activities. In particular, the Regent asked government employees to be active examples so that people would come to the library.
According to Deni Kurniadi, the library itself has an obligation to facilitate the activities of all Indonesian citizens. The position of the library is very strategic in creating a learning community.
“Currently libraries are encouraged to provide more benefits for the community through a social inclusion-based library service transformation program. With the tagline literacy for welfare, this program has targeted 34 provinces, more than 300 regencies/cities and 3,000 villages in Indonesia," said the Deputy.

Deni also emphasized that good literacy skills will have an impact on the strength of the foundation in forming cognitive skills, social sensitivity, and community productivity. Literacy is needed so that Indonesia is no longer a market for developed countries.
"Natural resources will eventually run out, but sustainable, literate human resources are needed in the development of science and technology," he said.
The huge potential generated from oil palm should be able to improve welfare. Moreover, Indonesia is known as one of the world's largest palm oil exporters. However, this potential is being eroded because it is precisely what is produced in Indonesia that has low economic value, such as CPO and PKO.
"It's better if we focus on products derived from palm oil to be used as cosmetic ingredients that are no less valuable. In fact, by 2045, Indonesia is targeting to become a center for producers and consumers of palm oil derivative products in the world so that it can determine global CPO prices," said Head of the Faculty of Agriculture, Jambi University, Mursalin.
The importance of the role of literacy in the progress of a country was also explained by the Education and Culture Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, Yusli Wardianto. The international community recognizes that Japan is one of the countries with good literacy.
The reading culture in Japan is built from an early age. All parties are involved without exception. Children in Japan from birth are familiar with books. Cool again, the Japanese government has a program to give gifts of books to newborn children.
"They distributed books to mothers when they took their children for the first immunization," explained Yusli.
The literacy movement in Japan began in the 17th century, where Terakoya had grown throughout Japan and reached its peak in the Meiji Restoration era. The number of Terrakoya even then had already reached more than 15,000. Terakoya is a place where ordinary people's children learn to read, write, and count. The result in 1913, Japan has managed to become one of the world's largest book producers.
The success of Japan is not impossible to be followed by Indonesia. Moreover, Indonesia has no less than 164,610 libraries. Much higher than Japan which only has 3,360 libraries//VOI