Legal Literacy - Currently, the complexity of the existence of oil palm plantations is becoming apoint of view of the arrangement of forest areas which is manifested through a series of raids to control areas that are prohibited from being planted with oil palm, especially oil palm plantations owned by the people.

For farmers whose land is in the Other Allocation Area (APL), they are relatively safe from the reach of the Forest Area Control Task Force (PKH) because there are no rules that are violated. However, oil palm farmers (independent farmers) often ignore the legality of their land. They tend to feel safe and comfortable with the current conditions and only focus on the harvest (TBS transactions). In fact, land legality is a key component in the adage of sustainability and prosperity (sustainability and properity) of oil palm plantations.

Smallholders only rely on Land Certificates (SKT) or Compensation Certificates (SKGR) along with sceets kaart (sketch/garden image) as proof of land ownership. There are also quite a few who only have ordinary sale and purchase deeds between sellers and buyers without state involvement. In fact, gardens without any letters are also commonly found.

The main obstacle to managing land ownership documents is cost. As an illustration, in one village in Riau Province, the SKT or SKGR management fee is charged at Rp. 1-2 million per plot. This amount is not ajeg; according to local policy. The costs are clearly higher if the management becomes a Certificate of Ownership (SHM) which must be carried out at the Regional Office of the National Land Agency (BPN) of the Regency/City with the requirement of a Deed of Sale and Purchase (AJB) document issued by a land deed official (notary or Pak Camat in several locations where there is no notary yet).

Another factor is the requirement for the maximum area of ownership of garden plots/fields to access the government's free land certification program through Complete Systematic Land Registration (PTSL) which also influences independent farmers to manage their land documents. It is not a rumor that many independent farmers own land of up to tens of hectares in one or several stretches (plots/fields). As a result, the smallholder concerned must divide the area into several letters with a rupiah figure for each letter management process!

That rupiah-based complexity often emerges in every conversation with smallholders regarding the legality of their oil palm plantations.