InfoSAWIT, WEST KOTAWARINGIN – The Association of Independent Oil Palm Smallholders (APKSM) in West Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, is accelerating the certification of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards for independent Smallholders through refresher training and socialisation programmes held in early February 2026.

The programme involved 774 Smallholders across five villages, namely Kadipi Atas, Sungai Rangit Jaya, Pangkalan Durin, Sumber Agung and Purbasari, with facilitators including farmer representatives and PT SSMS field assistant Fandi Febriansyah.

APKSM Chairman Widodo stated that meeting sustainability certification standards has become increasingly necessary for independent Smallholders in line with growing global demand for verified sustainable palm oil products.

He noted that certification serves as a gateway for Smallholders to gain stronger bargaining power and market certainty.

Participants received refresher training on RSPO and ISPO principles and criteria, best agricultural practices, land legality aspects, grievance mechanisms, occupational health and safety (OHS), accident risk mitigation, and the management of high conservation value areas.

APKSM also introduced the APKSM Mobile application for recording plantation activities—from harvesting and fertilisation to spraying and crop maintenance—as part of traceability requirements under sustainability certification schemes.

In addition, the training covered financial management, certification fund utilisation, and human rights principles, including the prohibition of child labour and employment of pregnant women in plantation activities.

Through RSPO compliance, independent Smallholders may access sustainability premiums from certified palm oil credit sales, while ISPO implementation ensures alignment with Indonesian regulatory requirements. (T2)