InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – As one of Indonesia's leading palm oil companies, Musim Mas is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability by backing the government's strategy to accelerate the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification. This support is demonstrated through assistance provided to thousands of independent smallholders to help them meet the government-mandated sustainability standards.
The ISPO certification is a vital milestone in strengthening the governance of the national palm oil industry. Beyond ensuring environmentally, socially, and economically sound plantation management, ISPO also enhances the competitiveness of Indonesian palm oil in the global market. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Directorate General of Plantations, the area of palm oil land already ISPO-certified reached 7.21 million hectares by July 2025, with independent smallholders contributing only about 69 thousand hectares. This figure indicates that the involvement of independent farmers still requires significant encouragement.
Since 2015, Musim Mas has run the Independent Smallholder Empowerment Program to help self-reliant farmers enter the sustainable palm oil supply chain. The program addresses various challenges faced by smallholders, ranging from limited understanding of sustainability standards and land legality issues to the lack of financial capacity to obtain certification.
Since 2021, Musim Mas has been supporting its fostered farmers in obtaining ISPO certification. By 2025, the company successfully facilitated 3,294 independent smallholders, managing a total land area of 7,804 hectares, to become ISPO-certified. This figure represents 11% of the total national achievement for certified independent smallholders.
“Musim Mas is strongly committed to bringing independent smallholders into the sustainable supply chain. Our support for the acceleration of ISPO certification is a form of synergy with the government's strategy to build an inclusive and sustainable palm oil industry,” said Rob Nicholls, Program & Project General Manager at Musim Mas, in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Wednesday (8/10/2025).
In assisting the smallholders, Musim Mas applies a comprehensive approach—from technical guidance in the field by agronomy teams, the formation of official farmer institutions, to facilitating coordination with relevant agencies, certification bodies, and other stakeholders.
The company also covers the entire cost of ISPO certification, allowing farmers to focus on improving practices without the burden of additional expenses.
The impact of the program is already being felt by the fostered farmers. One of them is Lady Ardyanto, an independent smallholder from Pasir Jaya Village, Rokan Hulu, Riau, who has been ISPO-certified since 2021. “Although there’s no price difference yet for certified FFB, my harvest yield has increased with better cultivation practices. My hope is that Musim Mas can continue to assist more farmers, and the government makes the ISPO certification process easier,” he said. (T1)
