InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Palm oil plantations have been the main focus to maintain sustainability namely if palm oil has something to do with independent smallholders that got Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certificate. One significant thing to support palm oil plantation development is by purchasing or selling fresh fruit bunch (FFB).
On 5 February 2024, Cargill and Perkumpulan Petani Swadaya Mitra Harapan (PPMH) did test to purchase FFB that got RSPO certificate from Paku Juang mill, Manis Mata, Regency of Ketapang, West Kalimantan Province. The test involved members of PPMH, KUD Sinar Beraduk Jaya with daily transaction about 15–20 tons FFB.
Sustainability Lead, Cargill Tropical Oils, Yunita Widiastuti said that the company is committed to purchase independent smallholders’ FFB that got RSPO certificate at Paku Juang mill. It was a test to involve them in segregation product supply chain. “Cargill is fully committed to support FFB physical trade from independent smallholders by planning to purchase 100 percent their FFB that got RSPO certificate,” Yuanita said, as in the official statement to InfoSAWIT, Thursday (29/2/2024).
Meanwhile Manager PPMH, Sandi Priana told that the initiative was not only about trade but also the long term - partnership for both sides to always improve sustainable palm oil governance. “By the purchase, independent smallholders would have the alternatives to maximize RSPO certificate advantages,” he said.
Rukaiyah Rafik, Secretariat Head of Forum Petani Kelapa Sawit Berkelanjutan Indonesia (Fortasbi) told that the test to physically purchase independent smallholders’ FFB by Cargil, would be ideal trade, namely if it has something to do with delivering answer about traceability and partnership between independent smallholders and mill.
“This model should be the alternative to encourage good partnership with the company and make sure that RSPO products produced by independent smallholders would be sold through the certified supply chain. The most important thing is that this should be the model to implement European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR),” she whose nick name, Uki, said.
Cargill would also involve two independent smallholders’ associations in FFB physical trade, they are, PPSK (Perkumpulan Petani Swadaya Ketapang) in Air Upas Regency of Ketapang, West Kalimantan Province and PPSMH (Perkumpulan Petani Swadaya Mitra Hindoli) in Musi Banyuasin, South Sumatera Province.
PPMH itself got RSPO certificate in 2023, and in progress to get Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil certificate with the supports from Cargill, IDH, JDE, and Fortasbi. (T2)