InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - Concerned about the environmental neglect in palm oil cultivation practices, Sutiyana has taken the lead in promoting more environmentally friendly palm oil farming. Now serving as the Chairman of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum (FORTASBI), his advocacy extends beyond productivity to uniting farmers in safeguarding the earth while ensuring harvests.
From Pangkalan Tiga Village in Kotawaringin Barat, Central Kalimantan, a significant transformation began with small steps. Sutiyana, a palm oil farmer, not only manages his plantation but also nurtures hope for the environment, community, and the future of smallholder palm oil farmers in Indonesia.
The year 1996 marked the beginning of this change. When the Primary Credit Cooperative Program for Members (KKPA) was introduced in the village through PT Meta Epsi Agro, residents began to familiarize themselves with palm oil. Five years later, in 2001, the community started planting palm oil independently. However, amidst the economic activity, Sutiyana noticed a troubling trend: careless cultivation practices, unregulated fertilization, and neglect of environmental care.
"I saw many independent farmers lacking understanding of proper palm oil cultivation rules. This motivated me to provide training," he recalled during a conversation with InfoSAWIT in mid-May 2025. He began organizing farmer groups, facilitating training, and gradually building awareness that palm oil farming is not just about harvesting but also about protecting the earth.
A significant milestone occurred in 2017 when Sutiyana met with the Bumi Innovation Institute (INOBU), an NGO that introduced the principles of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). "Since then, we started promoting good cultivation practices, from land legality to environmental preservation," he stated. As a result, his group achieved RSPO certification that same year.
The journey has not been without challenges. Changing long-standing habits requires time and patience. "Trust cannot be established overnight. But through continuous training, intensive communication, and teamwork, farmers gradually became receptive," Sutiyana explained. He established cooperatives like Koperasi Tani Subur and Koperasi Karya Sawit Mandiri Jaya to support this movement institutionally.
Sharing a common mission, Sutiyana joined the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum (FORTASBI), where he now serves as Chairman. This forum brings together farmers from various regions, such as Jambi and Riau, who have achieved RSPO certification, to collectively promote sustainable palm oil practices.
"FORTASBI exists not only to assist farmers in achieving certification but also to ensure they can maintain and improve the quality of their plantations," he said. Sutiyana noted three significant changes since the forum's inception: increased productivity due to proper harvesting and fertilization training; heightened awareness of workplace safety; and more responsible environmental management, including hazardous waste management.
He emphasized the crucial role of supporting organizations in encouraging farmers to transition to sustainable practices. "We need continuous support, not just in knowledge but also in mental and organizational aspects," he concluded. (T2)
For more details, read InfoSAWIT Magazine, May 2025 edition.
