InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR – Who would have thought that the journey of a trader and independent palm oil farmer from Subulussalam, Aceh, could break through to the international stage? That is the inspiring story of Risniati Tarigan, who this week stood firmly on the stage of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Conference in Kuala Lumpur. She received the RSPO certificate on behalf of CV Perangin-angin Group (CV PAG)—a farmer group consisting of 299 farmers managing more than 650 hectares of sustainable independent palm oil plantations.
This certification is not just a formal recognition. It marks that the palm oil produced by these farmers has met the principles of legality, without deforestation, respecting workers' and community rights, and maintaining environmental sustainability. CV PAG became the third independent farmer group successfully certified through the mentoring of Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, after groups from North Aceh (2023) and Langkat, North Sumatra (2024). Overall, more than 800 independent farmers with around 1,600 hectares of land have now been certified through the Sawit Terampilprogram.
Access to Sustainable Palm Oil Markets
Independent farmers contribute almost half of the total national palm oil production, but many of them still face classic obstacles: land legality, limited technical knowledge, and difficulties penetrating certified markets. This is where the Sawit Terampil program comes in, helping farmers improve agricultural practices, handle legality through the Cultivation Registration Certificate (STDB), and prepare for RSPO certification.
This program run by Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food is not just short-term training, but continuous mentoring. Through the application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), farmers are encouraged to increase productivity, reduce production costs, and strengthen cooperative institutions. “Now our harvests are better, costs are more efficient, and the farmer organization is more solid,” said one member of the CV PAG group, in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT, Thursday (6/11/2025).
Risniati's Story: From Trader to Empowered Farmer
Risniati has a dual role—she not only manages her own plantation but also acts as a collector trader of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from almost 100 other farmers in Subulussalam. “As a farmer, I want to produce better fruit that is not rejected by mills. Quality fruit means better prices for both farmers and traders,” she expressed.
According to her, the training she attended was not just about fruit quality standards, but also about how to produce the best fruit from her own plantation. “Now it's more transparent between farmers and collectors. FFB prices depend on quality, and that motivates us to do better,” she added.
Sinar Mas' Consistency in Supporting Farmers
Until 2025, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food has trained more than 11,000 farmers through the Sawit Terampil program, as part of the Collective for Impact sustainability framework. The target is for 100,000 independent farmers to receive similar training by 2035.
Helena Delima Lumban Gaol, Head of Smallholder Innovation at Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, emphasized the importance of long-term mentoring. “Sawit Terampil proves that small farmers are not enough with just short training. They need partners who walk with them—helping improve practices, obtain legality, to penetrate certified markets. This collaboration not only improves farmer welfare but also supports the RSPO mission so that sustainable palm oil can be achieved by all,” she explained.
About Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food
Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, under the umbrella of Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), is one of the world's largest palm oil companies with plantation areas of more than half a million hectares including plasma plantations. The company operates an integrated supply chain, from cultivation and processing of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to the production of various derivative products such as cooking oil, margarine, shortening, and biodiesel.
GAR was founded in 1996 and listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange since 1999. As of June 2025, its market capitalization reached US$2.5 billion. Its subsidiary, PT SMART Tbk, has been listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange since 1992.
The story of Risniati and CV PAG becomes real proof that sustainable palm oil is not just industry jargon, but a real hope that now grows from small plantations in remote Indonesia—towards a more fair and sustainable global market. (T2)
