InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Efforts to strengthen the sustainability and modernization of the smallholder palm oil sector continue to be intensified. Since 2015, the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP)—formerly known as BPDP Palm Oil—has played a strategic role in supporting sustainable palm oil development through various programs, including the Facilities and Infrastructure Program (Sarpras) for independent farmers.
This program is an important instrument in improving infrastructure and production capacity at the community plantation level. Not only the construction and improvement of plantation roads, this program also includes assistance for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, post-harvest tools, agricultural machinery, transportation of harvested products, and technical verification of the plantation. It is recorded that the realization of the Sarpras program budget throughout 2024 reached IDR 63.5 billion.
In order to accelerate the utilization of this program among farmers, the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum (FORTASBI) held a Technical Training for Submission of Sarpras and PSR in March 2025. This activity involved mentors from the Directorate of Oil Palm and Various Palm Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture, as well as experienced independent farmers.
This training is a strategic step in encouraging farmers to access government support. All training participants have active and verified accounts for submitting proposals. Mentors directly guide participants in data entry simulations and share tips on compiling documents according to BPDP formats and standards.
"Through this training, we know exactly what documents need to be prepared. Not only farmer data, but also institutional documents and coordination with the local government," said one of the participants as reported by InfoSAWIT from the official Fortasbi website, Friday (16/5/2025).
Although this program opens up great opportunities, in its annual report, BPDP was asked to make a number of improvements by the auditor. Among them, evaluating the performance of tender implementers who were considered non-transparent by beneficiaries, increasing compliance with the distribution schedule, accelerating the process of disbursing funds through Sucofindo, and improving the administration system and response to farmer complaints.
The Ministry of Agriculture also emphasized the importance of collaboration between farmers and local governments, especially in accessing palm oil revenue sharing funds (DBH). These funds can be used for the construction of plantation roads and access to BPJS Health and Employment subsidy programs.
FORTASBI hopes that this training will be a turning point for independent farmers, especially those who have been certified by ISPO or RSPO, to be better prepared to apply for Sarpras assistance independently. With a better understanding of the program's flow and requirements, farmers are expected to be able to increase their productivity and competitiveness in a sustainable palm oil system.
This step emphasizes the commitment of the government and civil society to ensure that smallholder palm oil becomes an important part of the transformation of the Indonesian palm oil industry to be more modern, inclusive and sustainable. (T2)
