InfoSAWIT, JAMBI - The Head of Tri Mulya Jaya Village, Moch Nuryasin, has refused to sign 155 documents belonging to palm oil farmers, which are part of the requirements for Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. This refusal is allegedly linked to demands for illegal levies that do not meet expectations. As a result, hundreds of farmers in the village are at risk of failing to obtain the RSPO certificate, which is crucial for the sustainability of their businesses.
The Chairman of the Karya Mandiri Village Cooperative (KUD), Nur Hadi, revealed that the documents had been submitted by farmers through the RSPO program manager from the cooperative to the village government for nearly a month. However, the documents have yet to be signed for reasons that have not been transparently explained. "The village head refuses to sign the farmers' RSPO documents without a clear reason. This is very detrimental to the farmers," he stated, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Jambian on Thursday (December 26, 2024).
Nur Hadi emphasized that all RSPO certification requirements have been met. The documents requested for the village head's signature pertain to the origin of the palm oil plantations, which is already clear since most farmers come from a transmigration program. "The land's origin is clearly from the government through the transmigration program," said Nur Hadi, accompanied by the cooperative's secretary, Yuwono.
The RSPO program has proven to provide significant benefits for farmers and the village. Before certification, farmers' annual production was only 14,000 tons. After obtaining RSPO certification, production surged to 21,500 tons in 2023. Additionally, the program contributed fees to the village budget amounting to IDR 42 million in 2023 and IDR 24 million in 2024, as well as supporting the construction of facilities such as mos ques, madrasahs, and the purchase of ambulances.
The RSPO program manager, Rizal, stated that since early December, the manager had submitted the documents collectively as per the village head's instructions. However, the village head's promise to sign the documents has been continuously postponed for various reasons, including being out of town and year-end busyness.
Rizal revealed that the village head requested contributions for village activities in exchange for signing the documents. "We contributed IDR 1 million, but that amount was rejected. The village head demanded at least IDR 3 million to sign the documents," he said.
Feeling extorted, the RSPO program manager decided to withdraw all documents from the village office. The chairman of KUD, Ramli, assessed that the village head's actions reflect a lack of transparency in service, intimidation, and potential categorization as a criminal act of gratification.
This refusal significantly harms 542 farmers who are members of KUD Karya Mandiri. RSPO certification not only enhances productivity but also opens access to broader global markets. Under these circumstances, farmers are at risk of losing significant opportunities to improve their welfare.
KUD Karya Mandiri hopes the village government will support the RSPO program without complicating matters for farmers. "We urge the relevant authorities to follow up on this issue for the sustainability of a program that is highly beneficial for the community," concluded Nur Hadi. (T2)