InfoSAWIT, KUTAI KARTANEGARA – The experience of Belayan Sejahtera Plantation Cooperative in East Kalimantan demonstrates that sustainability certification is more than a gateway to international markets—it can become a catalyst for stronger farmer organizations, higher incomes, and broader rural economic development.
Located in Muai Village, Kembang Janggut District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, the cooperative began its sustainability journey in 2022, when 157 independent smallholders managing approximately 578 hectares of oil palm plantations embarked on the certification process under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standard. According to FORTASBI, the initiative marked the beginning of a major transformation in both plantation management and cooperative governance.
As confidence in the benefits of certification grew, membership expanded significantly. The cooperative now represents 331 independent smallholders cultivating around 1,331 hectares, more than doubling its original membership and plantation area.
Beyond market recognition, the certification process encouraged farmers to establish stronger administrative systems, including accurate member registration, digital plantation mapping, land legality, product traceability, occupational safety standards, and environmental protection measures. These improvements have gradually shifted control over production data and supply chain information from external actors to the cooperative itself.
Belayan Sejahtera Group Manager Jamaluddin said reliable data has become the foundation for strengthening farmers' bargaining position. Comprehensive information enables the cooperative to develop business plans, measure productivity, identify operational risks, and negotiate more effectively with buyers and other stakeholders.
Economic benefits from RSPO certification have also extended beyond individual farmers. Revenue generated from the sale of RSPO credits has been reinvested into cooperative assets, including heavy equipment, storage facilities, business expansion, and village development initiatives. Part of the funds has also supported education, healthcare services, farm road improvements, and alternative income-generating activities for local communities.
According to FORTASBI, the Belayan Sejahtera model illustrates that empowering independent smallholders requires more than increasing production. Support for sustainability certification, accelerated land legalization, stronger farmer databases, and improved production infrastructure are equally essential to enhancing the global competitiveness of Indonesian smallholders.
Today, Belayan Sejahtera has evolved beyond its traditional role as a marketing cooperative. It has become a community-based economic institution, demonstrating how organized smallholders can play a leading role in building a productive, sustainable, and internationally competitive palm oil sector. (T2)
Source: InfoSAWIT
