Indonesian palm plantations urged to tighten Covid-19 curbs as infections climb

Riau is located on Sumatra island and accounts for 3.38 million hectares (8.35 million acres), or about a fifth of the country's 16.38 million hectares of palm oil plantations. - AFP

JAKARTA (Reuters): The Indonesian palm oil association (GAPKI) is urging palm oil plantations to tighten Covid-19 protocols in the country's top-producing province of Riau after a surge in infections in the area, an official at the industry body said.

The Southeast Asian country is the world’s top producer of palm oil used in everything from soap to ice cream and fuel with exports in 2020 estimated at about US$23 billion.