Introducing RSPO Guidance for Independent Oil…

Palm oil production plays an important role in the livelihoods of smallholders in Siak Regency, Riau Province. However, many smallholders in the region face challenges in adopting sustainable practices that meet global market demand for responsibly produced palm oil. RSPO Independent Smallholder (ISH) certification offers a pathway to meet these standards, helping ensure that their palm oil production is sustainable, environmentally responsible and competitive in international markets.

Despite the growing importance of RSPO certification, smallholders in Siak often lack access to the resources, training and support needed to implement its requirements. This gap limits their market opportunities and contributes to environmental degradation, particularly in the vulnerable peatland areas common throughout the region.

Community members harvesting oil palm fruit. Photo: Khamidi Setio Budi

Siak Regency contains extensive peatlands that are important for carbon storage and biodiversity. Unsustainable palm oil practices can lead to deforestation, peat degradation and increased greenhouse gas emissions. By guiding smallholders towards sustainable practices, this initiative helps protect these sensitive ecosystems. Smallholders adopting RSPO standards can access higher-value markets and improve their income through price premiums for certified sustainable palm oil. The initiative seeks to close knowledge gaps by providing the tools and guidance needed to improve farming practices and achieve RSPO certification.

Equipping smallholders in Siak with knowledge of RSPO standards helps strengthen community resilience and long-term economic stability by connecting them to sustainable supply chains. Through workshops in this key area, Yayasan Gambut aims to accelerate the adoption of RSPO-aligned practices among oil palm growers, supporting environmental sustainability and economic development for smallholders.

Workshop participants at the Siak Regency Government’s Pucuk Rebung meeting hall

The workshop, “Introduction and Distribution of the RSPO Booklet: Best Management Practices (BMP) for Independent Smallholders (ISH) with Existing Oil Palm Plantings on Peat in Siak Regency”, took place on Wednesday, 04 December 2024 at the Siak Regency Government’s Pucuk Rebung meeting hall. It brought together 34 participants from various institutions in person and another 24 online via Zoom. The Head of the Siak Plantation Office officially opened the event.

The workshop aimed to improve independent oil palm smallholders’ understanding of sustainable plantation practices, particularly through Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. A central focus was introducing RSPO certification and its practical benefits, including broader market access, improved productivity and economic incentives from selling certified produce.

Dika Dwi Darmawan, Executive, Smallholder Programme Indonesia, presented “Building Sustainable Oil Palm Plantations Today and in the Future”. He introduced RSPO and the key aspects of sustainable palm oil production under its certification system. Representing RSPO, he explained that the organisation was established in 2004. RSPO is an international non-profit membership organisation that brings together stakeholders from key sectors of the palm oil industry to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through credible global standards.

Its founding members include the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA), Unilever, Migros and AAK. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, RSPO also has representative offices in Indonesia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, China and Colombia.

Under RSPO’s definition, sustainable palm oil production involves management and operations that comply with applicable laws, are environmentally and socially appropriate, and deliver economic benefits while prioritising prosperity, people and the planet.

The second presentation, “Regional Policies to Accelerate Sustainable Plantation Certification”, was delivered by Siswanto of the Siak Regency Plantation Office. Local government support for sustainable oil palm plantations is reflected in the Siak Regency Government’s action plan, recognising the sector’s substantial potential. According to the presentation, Siak Regency has 220,974 ha of smallholder plantations (64%), 9,474.46 ha of state-owned plantations and 117,195.47 ha of privately owned large plantations (34%).

Smallholders in Siak continue to face challenges, including poor-quality planting material, limited participation in associations or cooperatives, and restricted market access. A particularly important barrier is low interest in certification because of the perceived high cost of the process.

Through its plantation and agriculture offices, the Siak Regency Government has programmes covering:

Partnerships with strategic partners;
Establishment and strengthening of grower organisations;
Grower capacity development through training, scholarships and study visits;
Employment social security;
Sustainable palm oil certification and related standards (ISPO, RSPO, ISCC, UEDR and others);
Smallholder oil palm replanting;
Facilities and infrastructure, including seedlings, fertiliser, machinery, trucks, roads and palm oil mills;
Government pricing for fresh fruit bunches (TBS).

These programmes are also integrated with Siak’s Green Regency regional regulation, which guides sustainable natural resource management for the welfare of Siak’s communities.

The third presentation was delivered by Joni Irawan, SP., M.Si., an agriculture academic from Universitas Riau (UR). He explained peatland management for plantations, helping participants understand peat soils’ properties and characteristics and appropriate cultivation practices. Topics included selecting quality seedlings, soil and nutrient management, suitable planting techniques, pest and disease control, and the influence of weather and climate.

Water conditions and sufficient plant nutrients are essential to peatland management. For oil palm, these factors require particular attention because they affect fruit yields. Nutrients are supplied through inorganic or organic materials to support plant growth.

Recognising symptoms in plants can help identify deficiencies in nutrients such as potassium, copper, nitrogen, micronutrients, magnesium, iron and boron.

The final presentation, by Dr. M. Amrul Khoiri, S.P., MP, an agriculture academic from UR, covered integrated pest and disease management, oil palm plantation operations and fire prevention. Participants learned the basic principles of integrated pest and disease management and pest control. Particular emphasis was placed on practical field application through cultural, biological, mechanical and chemical control, alongside observation and monitoring.

The four (4) main oil palm pests discussed were nettle caterpillars, bagworms, rhinoceros beetles and termites, while Ganoderma infection was identified as a common disease. Long-term pesticide use carries risks: poisoning and health problems for consumers, and disruption of agroecosystems through resistance, pest resurgence, outbreaks of other pests and the loss of natural enemies.

Integrated pest and disease management combines different control methods to maintain ecosystem balance, improve productivity and reduce environmental harm. The presentation focused on helping farmers minimise chemical pesticide use and prioritise environmentally responsible methods.

Participants actively contributed to a discussion session that highlighted several challenges facing independent smallholders seeking certification:

Land legality: Many farmers lack adequate land ownership documents, making it difficult to meet certification requirements.
Organisational development: Most farmers still work individually, whereas certification requires organisation into groups or cooperatives.
Dependence on external support: Certification often requires assistance from NGOs or larger companies, which may not be available over the long term.

Mulyadi, Director of Yayasan Gambut, symbolically handing over the RSPO booklet to workshop participants

In response to these challenges, the discussion explored options such as the RSPO Smallholders Fund, which provides grants for initial audit costs, and farmer training through the RSPO Smallholder Trainer Academy. Participants were also encouraged to build strong organisations so they could navigate certification more independently. Distributing the RSPO ISH booklet to smallholders and other stakeholders through the Siak workshop aimed to improve awareness and understanding of certification and facilitate dialogue among stakeholders to support implementation of RSPO standards.

Download the RSPO booklet here: https://yayasangambut.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024_ish_bmp_full_indonesia.pdf