PALMOILMAGAZINE, PELALAWAN – Beringin Indah Village in Pelalawan Regency is set to become a key center for collaboration aimed at accelerating the Smallholders Replanting Program (SRP) and the achievement of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification. The initiative was launched on Tuesday (8/10/2024) at the Koperasi Unit Desa (KUD) Beringin Jaya office, with participation from the University of Riau (UNRI), Riau Province Plantation Agency, Pelalawan Livestock and Plantation Agency, and local village officials.
As part of the collaboration, 32 cultivation documents were handed over to independent smallholders from KUD Beringin Jaya and the Riau-based Asosiasi Petani Sawit Bertuah. This marks a step toward strengthening smallholder institutions, with members required to meet SRP and ISPO standards.
In preparation for the ISPO certification process, UNRI provided training on institutional management to help smallholders adopt more modern and professional organizational practices. Led by Meyzi Heriyanto, the training aimed to equip smallholders for the ISPO certification, which now follows more stringent international standards.
Also Read: UNRI FISIP Academics Provide ISPO Certification Assistance
The certification was symbolically handed over to representatives of the smallholders in a ceremony witnessed by Syahrial Abdi, Head of Riau Province Plantation Agency, and Arni Rosita, a representative from the Pelalawan Livestock and Plantation Agency. Ahmad Rifa’i, representing UNRI’s Empowerment Team, and Meyzi Heriyanto formally presented the certification.
“The collaboration would be the start of long process heading to smallholders’ sustainable empowerment,” Ahmad Rifa’i said, as in the official statement to Palmoilmagazine.com, Thursday (10/10/2024).
He also emphasized the collaboration would always be with the full supports from Riau Province Plantation Agency and Pelalawan Livestock and Plantation Agency. Chairman of KUD Beringin Jaya, Suyanto and the village representatives, Anton, did appreciate the cooperation and hoped that the achievement would motivate more independent smallholders to join cultivation document and ISPO programs.
Syahrial Abdi also emphasized that it would be significant to get collaboration with many parties to accelerate ISPO certification. “Riau has to be the sample for other provinces in sustainable palm oil partnership and we would support it,” he said.
It is hoped in 2025, every independent smallholder in the province would get ISPO certificate. Village of Beringin Indah should be the development village which is sustainable for UNRI and related partners. (P2)
