JAKARTA, InfoSAWIT – In a bid to promote sustainable palm oil certification through the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) scheme, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture, has partnered with the Reclaim Sustainability! Palm Oil program by Solidaridad and the Resource Center for Oil Palm Smallholders (ReCOPS). This collaboration focuses on implementing the Electronic Cultivation Registration Certificate (E-STDB) for independent palm oil farmers.
The initiative took center stage during a cross-agency Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held last week in Jakarta. The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance (represented by the Palm Oil Fund Management Agency/BPDPKS), the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, regional governments from West Kalimantan, plantation industry associations (GAPKI and GPPI), farmer organizations (APKASINDO, SPKS, and FORTASBI), the European Forest Institute, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
The FGD aimed to address challenges in implementing STDB regulations for independent farmers, farmer groups, and cooperatives. It also sought to identify obstacles in transitioning to the E-STDB system and devise strategies for its accelerated adoption at the regional level.
E-STDB is a crucial tool in supporting ISPO certification, as the registration and issuance of STDB have long been significant hurdles for smallholders. According to Prayudi Syamsuri, Acting Director of Processing and Marketing of Plantation Products at the Ministry of Agriculture, the government targets 10% of Indonesia's 2.5 million independent palm oil farmers—approximately 250,000 farmers—to obtain STDB through the E-STDB mechanism.
“In 2025, we aim to register 10,000 farmers daily via E-STDB to meet this target,” Prayudi stated in an official release cited by InfoSAWIT on Wednesday (27/11/2024).
Solidaridad Indonesia has fully embraced the E-STDB initiative, linking it with government programs such as the Smallholder Palm Oil Rejuvenation (PSR) scheme and broader food security efforts. Delima Hasri Azahari, Chair of Solidaridad Network Indonesia and leader of the ReCOPS program, expressed the organization’s commitment to ensuring the initiative’s success on the ground.
A primary issue identified is the misconception surrounding the STDB. It is not a permit but a document certifying the legality of a farmer’s plantation, issued by local governments. The STDB enables independent farmers to access facilities such as seed distribution, rejuvenation programs, marketing support, and other government initiatives. It remains valid as long as cultivation continues and land status remains unchanged.
As of November 2024, Solidaridad reported issuing over 2,000 STDBs for 3,792 independent farmers across Lampung, West Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan.
The outcomes of the FGD will be followed up in a workshop scheduled for December 2024. The recommendations will be compiled into a policy brief to be presented to the government, aiming to expedite the implementation of E-STDB for Indonesia’s independent palm oil farmers.
By addressing key challenges and accelerating adoption, the initiative seeks to empower smallholders, enhance their access to sustainable practices, and align with global market demands for certified sustainable palm oil. (T2)
