Duty Free, Not Problem-Free

TEMU Abdih has been feeling down lately. As the owner of dozens of hectares of plantation in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, he often thinks back to the time when he was still working for an oil palm plantation company with a salary of Rp2-3 million per month. "I wish I could go back to being an employee, but I am no longer young," Temu, an agricultural engineer told Tempo, in mid-October.

A few years ago, Temu planned to enjoy his twilight years with more independence. Tired of being an employee, he ventured to retire early and build his own oil palm plantation from his personal savings. It was not a wrong choice. The plantation turned out to provide him with an income several times overcompared to when he was a salaried employee.

November 4, 2014