InfoSAWIT, PANGKALANBARU – The Central Bangka Regency (Bateng) government is ramping up efforts to accelerate the certification of sustainable palm oil by holding a socialization event for the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Santika Hotel in Pangkalanbaru.
The event, organized by the Central Bangka Agriculture and Food Security Office (DPKP), was officially opened by Deputy Regent Efrianda, accompanied by DPKP Head Dian Akbarini.
In her remarks, Dian emphasized that this event serves as a crucial moment to equip stakeholders—including farmers, farmer groups, extension workers, village and sub-district officials, and partner companies—with the knowledge to understand and implement sustainability principles in palm oil cultivation.
“The purpose of this socialization is to enhance farmers' understanding of the ISPO certification concept and obligations. Additionally, it aims to encourage the adoption of sustainable farming practices, develop strategic steps toward certification, and foster synergy among farmers, the government, and other stakeholders,” Dian stated, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Diskominfosta Central Bangka on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
The event, attended by around 100 participants, was characterized by a warm and interactive atmosphere. Dian also highlighted the importance of improving land legality, farmer group management, and recording cultivation activities as initial steps toward ISPO certification readiness.
“With these improvements, farmers will be able to access incentives or sustainability-based partnership programs in the future,” she added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Regent Efrianda welcomed the initiative and encouraged all participants to pay close attention to the materials presented to ensure the success of the ISPO certification process in the region.
“Palm oil is a strategic commodity in Central Bangka. It not only serves as the primary source of income for thousands of farming families but also significantly contributes to regional revenue and job creation,” Efrianda remarked.
ISPO is a national certification system developed by the Indonesian government to ensure that palm oil production is conducted legally, environmentally friendly, and sustainably.
“The principles of ISPO include compliance with laws, good agricultural practices, environmental and biodiversity management, as well as transparency and business sustainability,” Efrianda explained.
During the event, Dr. Dian Akbarini provided an in-depth presentation on ISPO certification policies in Central Bangka. Also present were the Chairman of the Central Bangka Palm Oil Farmers Association (Apkasindo), Maladi, and the Head of the Plantation Division of the Bangka Belitung Province DPKP, Muhammad Isa Anshorie.
The Central Bangka government hopes that through this socialization, farmers will be better prepared to meet sustainability challenges in the palm oil sector while enhancing the competitiveness of palm oil products in the global market. (T2)
