InfoSAWIT, BANGKOK – As key players in Indonesia's success as one of the world’s top palm oil producers, Indonesian palm oil farmers remain committed to producing high-quality, sustainable palm oil that meets global market demands, particularly in Europe and America. A significant part of this commitment is achieving certification under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which is recognized as a global standard for sustainable palm oil.

This commitment was demonstrated by smallholder farmers under the Serikat Petani Kelapa Sawit (SPKS), who have successfully earned the RSPO certification. On November 10, 2024, a total of 600 farmers from three cooperatives—Koperasi Produsen Karya Desa Mandiri in Labuhanbatu Utara, North Sumatra; Koperasi Makmur Barokah Belutu in Siak, Riau; and Koperasi Produsen Usaha Bersama Tunas Merapi Manunggal in Rokan Hulu, Riau—were awarded the prestigious RSPO certification in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sabarudin, the Chairman of SPKS, emphasized that Indonesian palm oil farmers are deeply committed to sustainability in line with global market standards. These farmers are not only adhering to Indonesia’s national sustainability certification, Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO), but are also meeting international RSPO standards. 

"SPKS members now have 12 cooperatives certified with both ISPO and RSPO, covering a total of 2,300 farmers and approximately 3,500 hectares of land. This demonstrates that palm oil farmers are committed to producing sustainably, in response to global market demands," Sabarudin stated in an official release received by InfoSAWIT on Friday, November 15, 2024.

He further stressed the importance of changing the perception that smallholder farmers cannot meet global sustainability standards. “It’s not only large companies that can produce sustainable palm oil. Our farmers are also committed to conservation efforts, such as protecting forests around the land they manage, as shown by our members in West Kalimantan,” he explained.

However, Sabarudin acknowledged that implementing sustainability standards involves high costs. Unfortunately, support from large companies, which have benefited significantly from the national palm oil industry, including RSPO member companies, remains limited for smallholder farmers. Additionally, government support has been insufficient. As a result, SPKS hopes for increased backing from both companies and the government so that more farmers can manage palm oil production according to global market standards.

Sabarudin also expressed SPKS’s commitment to supporting the acceleration of ISPO certification by the government. "All SPKS cooperatives will pursue ISPO certification. We believe ISPO will be a key factor in improving national palm oil productivity while also enhancing the governance of the palm oil sector," he concluded. (T2)