PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Musim Mas Group, in collaboration with the Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming (L3F), SNV Indonesia, and ICRAF, launched the Biodiverse & Inclusive Palm Oil Supply Chain (BIPOSC) program. This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of independent smallholders through regenerative farming practices. Since 2021, the program has been active in Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra Province, working to produce sustainable, deforestation-free palm oil.
BIPOSC promotes a regenerative approach focused on improving land health and natural conservation. The program uses a locally adapted agroforestry model with a primary goal of ecosystem protection. Targeting independent smallholders from the Asosiasi Pekebun Swadaya Kelapa Sawit Labuhanbatu (APSKS LB), the initiative also supports them in gaining market access and navigating certification processes for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO).
Rob Nicholls, General Manager of Project & Program at Musim Mas Group, emphasized the vital role of independent smallholders in ensuring a sustainable future for the palm oil industry, despite the initial challenges they face in adopting sustainable practices.
But, Rob Nicholls continued, everything was implemented, such as, delivering socialization for them so that they would understand about the program.
“The collaboration should increase the planters’ capacity, namely in their cultivation and developing their alternative income. This would be about to get and realize inclusive supply chain and good natural conservation,” he said to Palmoilmagazine.com, Thursday (17/10/2024) in Jakarta.
BIPOSC would deliver not only technical trainings but also support institutional development by establishing composting unit with 100 – 150 ton – capacity per month. By 2023, the units produced about 588 tons of compost and got profit about Rp 421 million. The composting unit now offers compost within more economic price or about half of the market price. This encouraged the planters as the members of APSKS LB to apply compost.
SNV Indonesia did significantly play its role in the program by focusing on regenerative plantation and in agro-forestry model. “We do implement comprehensive approach to maintain the fertility of the soil and good natural conservation. These would deliver advantages for the planters’ economy and life,” Rizki Pandu Permana, Country Director SNV Indonesia, said.
BIPOSC program involved 1.097 independent smallholders to get best management practice training with their total areas about 1.954,41 hectares. Besides, 25 village facilitators and seven pilot projects were established to support the regenerative practical implementation.
For it is predicted that the independent smallholders would contribute 60% in palm oil plantations in 2030, BIPOSC program should be the key to produce more sustainable palm oil products in the future. (P2)
