These issues were at the centre of a harvesting and post-harvest training programme attended by 118 oil palm smallholders from Tebo, Sarolangun and Batanghari regencies in Jambi Province. Held from October 7–11, 2026, the programme formed part of Indonesia’s 2026 Oil Palm Plantation Human Resource Development Programme, a collaboration involving the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), the Directorate General of Plantations at the Ministry of Agriculture, and IPB Training. According to a report by Kabarku on the programme, Prof. Dr. Ir. Hariyadi, MS, head of the IPB Training team, emphasised the importance of proper harvesting techniques in determining plantation output. “Proper harvesting methods will determine the results. Cultivation and harvesting therefore complement each other,” he said in an official statement received by on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The training highlighted the need to match plantation production potential with appropriate harvesting decisions. Fresh fruit bunches must be harvested at the correct level of ripeness, while harvesting and collection activities should follow established procedures. Participants received instruction on harvest maturity criteria, harvesting systems and organisation, the preparation of equipment and infrastructure, and harvesting techniques. They also studied production forecasting, known as taksasi produksi, to estimate potential yields and support harvest planning. Production forecasting helps growers determine labour requirements, prepare equipment and organise transportation so that harvesting operations can run more efficiently according to field conditions.   Post-Harvest Handling and Fruit Quality Beyond harvesting techniques, the programme covered the handling of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) and loose fruits after harvesting. Proper handling before transportation is essential to maintaining quality and ensuring accurate production records. Post-harvest sessions included crop management, grading and sorting, and traceability. These topics were intended to help smallholders understand the importance of product quality while improving plantation-level production records. Of the 118 participants, 60 came from Tebo Regency, while Sarolangun and Batanghari each contributed 29 participants. The training combined classroom instruction, discussions, practical exercises and a field visit to PTPN IV Regional 4 in Tanjung Lebar. During the visit, participants observed harvesting practices, the handling of FFB and loose fruits, and grading and sorting procedures. The practical approach allowed smallholders to connect the lessons with day-to-day plantation operations and observe how harvesting and post-harvest standards are applied in the field. Mistakes in determining fruit maturity or handling harvested bunches can reduce the value of production already achieved. Improving these practices can therefore help smallholders make better use of their plantations’ productive potential. Through the human resource development programme, participants are expected to apply their new knowledge to improve harvesting and post-harvest management on their own farms, supporting more productive, efficient and sustainable smallholder oil palm operations.