InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - Musim Mas Group in cooperation with Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming (L3F), SNV Indonesia, and ICRAF conducted Biodiverse & Inclusive Palm Oil Supply Chain (BIPOSC) – the program to escalate independent smallholders’ capacity through regenerative plantation approach. The program that has been started since 2021 was implemented in the Regency of Labuhanbatu, North Sumatera Province to create more sustainable and free deforestation – palm oil products.
BIPOSC proposed regenerative concept that focused to increase the condition of lan and natural conservation better. Besides, the program implemented agro-forestry model that was adapted as the condition locally, and the main pillar was about to protect the ecosystem. The target of the program was the independent smallholders in the Asosiasi Pekebun Swadaya Kelapa Sawit Labuhanbatu (APSKS LB). They also got the helps from Musim Mas to get market access and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification processes.
General Manager Project & Program Musim Mas Group, Rob Nicholls said the independent smallholders would significantly play their roles for the future of palm oil industries sustainably even though many challenges were ahead in the early program ran to take them in implementing the sustainable cultivation.
But, Rob Nicholls continued, everything was implemented, such as, delivering socialization for them so that they would understand about the program.
“The collaboration should increase the planters’ capacity, namely in their cultivation and developing their alternative income. This would be about to get and realize inclusive supply chain and good natural conservation,” he said to InfoSAWIT, Thursday (17/10/2024) in Jakarta.
BIPOSC would deliver not only technical trainings but also support institutional development by establishing composting unit with 100 - 150 ton – capacity per month. By 2023, the units produced about 588 tons of compost and got profit about Rp 421 million. The composting unit now offers compost within more economic price or about half of the market price. This encouraged the planters as the members of APSKS LB to apply compost.
SNV Indonesia did significantly play its role in the program by focusing on regenerative plantation and in agro-forestry model. “We do implement comprehensive approach to maintain the fertility of the soil and good natural conservation. These would deliver advantages for the planters’ economy and life,” Rizki Pandu Permana, Country Director SNV Indonesia, said.
BIPOSC program involved 1.097 independent smallholders to get best management practice training with their total areas about 1.954,41 hectares. Besides, 25 village facilitators and seven pilot projects were established to support the regenerative practical implementation.
For it is predicted that the independent smallholders would contribute 60% in palm oil plantations in 2030, BIPOSC program should be the key to produce more sustainable palm oil products in the future. (T2)
