PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The vast green palm oil plantations, where smallholders have invested their hopes and futures for years, are now facing a new wave of challenges. The rapidly changing landscape brings with it the threat of disruption.
Technology advancements, policy shifts, evolving consumer demands, and climate change are no longer just issues on the horizon; they are daily realities for smallholders. In this dynamic environment, they are confronted with challenges unlike any they’ve faced before.
Extreme climate change, increasing demand for sustainable products, and the rapid development of renewable technologies are forcing them to adapt at an unprecedented pace.
The critical question arises: how will smallholders survive? The answer lies not just in adaptation but in self-transformation. They must evolve from being mere producers of raw materials, like fresh fruit bunches, to becoming pillars of energy security that support the global economy.
In this process, palm oil would have the big potential as the bioenergy material. When the world is ahead to clean energy, palm oil could be the solution, not only having higher economy, but also supporting environmental sustainability. By taking advantages on modern technology, the smallholders should process their production to be biofuel or other energy that should be environmental. This would be not only to survive from global scale – disruption but also be the leader heading to more sustainable future.
But the transformation would not happen by itself. The smallholders should develop the new capacity and knowledge. They have to understand about the dynamic of energy markets, adopt more efficient agricultural practices, and get stronger partnership with many parties, such as, the governments and industries. The support in the forms of national and international scale – policies would be very significant to confirm that the smallholders would get fair access to technologies and markets.
Also Read: Palm Oil Advocacy Efforts by Workers and Stakeholders in the European Union
The transformation may seem as the big challenges but it is actually the golden chance. The smallholders’ characteristic that got used to intensive cultivation and the government’s program in downstream sector namely biofuel, would deliver them a strong base to take part in their roles. With the right supports, the smallholders could be the main actors to maintain energy security in the globe.
When the wind of change gets faster, the smallholders should not worry but in the contrary, they have to get preparation to face the challenges with straight head and good ways because after the rain falls, there would be silver lining, there would be chances to be stronger, tougher, and more powerful.
By: Chairman of Persatuan Organisasi Petani Kelapa Sawit (POPSI)/Pahala Sibuea
Disclaimer: this article is personal opinion, the writer himself is fully in charge
