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PPSK, a Coalition of 12 Farmers' Groups in Ketapang, Completes RSPO Audit in 3 Years



Document: InfoSAWIT/PPSK Completes RSPO Audit, A New Chapter for Palm Oil Sustainability in Ketapang
PPSK, a Coalition of 12 Farmers' Groups in Ketapang, Completes RSPO Audit in 3 Years

InfoSAWIT, KETAPANG – After a long three-year struggle, the Palm Oil Farmers Association of Ketapang (PPSK) has successfully completed the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) audit. This achievement was marked by a major audit conducted from December 16 to 18, 2024, making January 2025 a joyful beginning for the 1,223 farmer members of PPSK.

Established on November 10, 2022, PPSK is a coalition of 12 farmers' groups spread across several villages in the Air Upas District of Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan. These include KUD Subur Makmur in Membuluh Baru Village; Koperasi Produsen Subali Raya Sejahtera in Air Upas Village; and Koperasi Produsen Berkah Manunggal Sejahtera, also in Air Upas Village. Other groups include KOPBUN Titian Makmur in Air Durian Jaya Village; Koperasi Produsen Rimba Kecubung Indah in Banda Sari; KUD Bukit Selendang Jaya in Bukit Selendang Jaya Village; and KOPTAN Budhi Asih in Bukit Gajah Village. Additionally, KOPBUN Mitra Sejahtera is located in Gahang Village; Koperasi Produsen Kuning Bekasik Betuah in Gahang Village; KOPBUN Karya Jaya in Lembah Mukti Village; CV. Mitra Tani Sejahtera in Sari Bekayas Village; and CV. Borneo Usaha Kusuma in Lembah Mukti Village.

With a certified area of 2,329.58 hectares, PPSK has adopted the RSPO Independent Smallholder standard of 2019, guided by Fortasbi, Cargill, IDH, and JDE since 2021.

“This process was full of challenges, especially in aligning the vision of 12 groups that are quite far apart,” said PPSK Group Manager Sudarto in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday (January 21, 2025). He mentioned that he regularly visited these groups to build a shared commitment. “We spoke from the heart, strengthening motivation, and ultimately succeeded in passing the audit process,” he added.

During the first audit in May 2024, PPSK recorded 16 non-conformity findings (NC). However, through intensive training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), High Conservation Value (HCV), and waste management, they were able to make improvements and were declared successful in the subsequent audit.

Sudarto recounted how independent farmers, most of whom are transmigrants who have been planting palm oil since the 1990s, cried tears of joy when the auditors announced their success. “We continued to coordinate and address every finding until we finally succeeded,” he said.

PPSK farmer members have been supplying fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to PT Poliplant Sejahtera, a subsidiary of Cargill Tropical Palm. With RSPO certification, it is hoped that farmers can enhance the competitiveness of their products in the global market while improving their welfare.

Rukaiyah Rafik, Head of the Secretariat of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum (FORTASBI), expressed her appreciation for this achievement. “All of this is for sustainability and the welfare of farmers,” she said, while thanking Cargill and other parties that supported this process.

Rukaiyah hopes that this certification will provide tangible benefits for farmers, both economically and environmentally. “The number of independent farmers passing the RSPO audit continues to grow, and this is a positive step for the sustainable palm oil industry,” she concluded.

The success of PPSK is proof that collaboration and commitment can address sustainability challenges in the palm oil sector while opening new opportunities for small farmers in Ketapang. (T2)


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