InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The Sawit Terampil program, initiated by Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, has achieved another milestone by supporting the Koperasi Jasa Sawit Lepan Jaya (KJSLJ) cooperative in Langkat, North Sumatra, to secure the prestigious Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. The certification was awarded during the RSPO Roundtable Conference (RT) held in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 11 to 13, 2024.
KJSLJ, comprising 250 independent smallholder farmers managing 368 hectares of palm oil plantations, is the second cooperative to attain RSPO certification through this program. The certificate was presented to Ardiyanto, the cooperative’s chairman and group manager, as recognition of their commitment to sustainability practices.
The Sawit Terampil program is designed to educate and equip palm oil farmers with the necessary skills to implement best practices in palm oil production. The initiative aims to enhance productivity and crop quality while meeting international sustainability standards.
“This achievement marks a significant milestone for the independent farmers participating in our program, enabling them to obtain RSPO sustainability certification,” said Helena Delima Lumban Gaol, Head of Smallholders Innovation Department at Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, during the launch of the RISE Initiative and RSPO certification celebration event in Jakarta on Wednesday (4/12/2024).
The program also supports the acceleration of the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification process, aligning with the National Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil Plantations (RAN KSB) 2019–2024. One key requirement is the issuance of a Plantation Registration Certificate (STDB). Sawit Terampil facilitates this process by providing geo-location-based land mapping, which serves as a critical foundation for STDB issuance.
Ardiyanto expressed his gratitude for the significant benefits of the program. “We gained valuable knowledge on good agricultural practices, which enabled us to achieve RSPO certification. Additionally, the program’s land mapping assistance has helped us submit the necessary STDB forms to the government. We hope the STDB will be issued soon,” he stated.
This success underscores Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food’s commitment to supporting independent palm oil farmers in adopting sustainable practices, contributing to a more environmentally friendly and globally competitive Indonesian palm oil industry. (T2)
