Principally, plantation has its growth in Indonesia as an “Area of the culture encounter”. It is why we should know well the descending and the ascending of the plantation in Nusantara (Indonesia) which often offers a heritage as a history record. The first president of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno, ever said in his speech in celebrating independence of Indonesia on the 17th of August 1966 “Never forget and disregard the history”. An Irish writer, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900 ) in his quote also said: “The only thing we should do to history is write it!”
In this book, a writer tries to illustrate a history and evolution of plantation in Indonesia as a chronicle where most population in this country that we call a nation had to pass the miserable and discourage lives just when other nation walked into this country as a colonizer and employed an enforced agriculture program (cultuurstelsel). But on same time, Indonesia could recognize plantation and cultivation as an agicultural activity, till Indonesia could be identified as the most popular agricultural country in the world especially for its oil palm. But as the writer marked in this book “ Eventhough Indonesia presently is still well known as a largest oil palm plantation and number one palm oil producer in the world, but the question is when will the labour of oil palm plantation in Indonesia can ever be a labour with the number one wages in the world?”
The history of plantation in Indonesia since pre-cultuurstelsel period (Dutch Colonialism) until present day (reformation period) is well carved in this book in a narrative style and detailed data style. This book can be very useful as data resources and indispensable for providing inspiration to any one who has profession in plantation, or as observer, and even as scholars.
Githa Noviana
Editor
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