InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - The publication of EUDR raised worry that it would have something to do with cultivation process from conventional to sustainable ways.
EUDR that its time limit of implementation would be 18 months to go from now, has raised worry for planters, namely smallholders because the regulation would disturb and make cultivation changes from conventional to sustainable ways.
Senior Advisor of Forum Petani Kelapa Sawit Berkelanjutan Indonesia (Fortasbi), Rukaiyah Rafiq said, EUDR would deliver more impacts for independent smallholders. Fortasbi thought many palm oil plantation companies would easily anticipate EUDR because their palm oil supplies were from plasma smallholders that got sustainable certificates.
But it would be a serious issue for the companies that got supplies from independent smallholders. Uki, her nickname thought the challenge is that only few independent smallholders got Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO).
She continued, independent smallholders that got RSPO certificate since 2013 just reached 15.000 of 2,4 million families in total. It is admitted, EUDR is easy but it does not comply with every stakeholder. When a company faces annoying regulation, the company would stop its supplies.
“Plasma smallholders which are traceable mostly have ISPO or RSPO certificate but there are few independent smallholders that got the certificate. One thing for sure, the independent smallholders would stop supplying” Uki said in Focus Group Discussion (FGD) SAWIT BERKELANJUTAN VOL. 14, with the theme “Mengintegrasikan Industri Hulu Hingga Hilir Sawit Berkelanjutan”, that media InfoSAWIT did and supported by Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency, Wednesday (7/6/2023) in Jakarta.
Uki continued her side does not reject it because the regulation is food to conserve forest and sustainably get economy. EUDR is the draft of regulation published by European Union to implement due diligence to seven agriculture and forestry commodities, including palm oil.
“We do not reject EUDR. It is good but would it have enough time? Why can’t we breathe for a while? Would it have time to get the certificate? If willing to get certificate, the smallholders are confused with fresh fruit bunch (FFB) price and others,” she said.
That is why Uki continued, EUDR should be simpler than RSPO so that the smallholders that got ISPO or RSPO could adjust the terms and conditions in EUDR.
She also told, independent smallholders keep fighting for and expanding their plantations to get Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certificates, and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC).
The publication of EUDR raised and would be delivering impacts for independent smallholders. They would be away from European trade scheme. The smallholders would be away from their dependence on mills, knowledge capacity, and existence of intermediary traders. These are serious issues for them.
Source: Majalah InfoSAWIT, June 2023
