PALMOILMAGAZINE, SEKADAU, West Kalimantan – PT Agro Andalan (AAN), in collaboration with the Oil Palm Farmers Union (SPKS) and PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Tbk (SMART), officially launched and introduced the Skilled and Sustainable Oil Palm Farmers Data Collection and Empowerment Program in Sekadau Regency, West Kalimantan.
The initiative aims to encourage the adoption of sustainable oil palm cultivation practices, especially among independent smallholders. It focuses on enhancing traceability within the supply chain and supports the local government’s implementation of the Sekadau Sustainable Palm Oil Regional Action Plan as regulated under Sekadau Regent Regulation No. 26 of 2022.
The program kick-off took place at the Multi Hotel Hall in Sekadau, attended by Sekadau Regent Aron SH, relevant local government agencies, farmer group representatives from 16 villages, and strategic partners.
Also Read:
Through this program, PT AAN aims to:
- Map the independent smallholder oil palm farms within its supply chain,
- Educate farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),
- Strengthen farmer institutions, and
- Prepare them for ISPO and RSPO certification compliance.
Sekadau Regent Aron SH expressed his appreciation for the multi-stakeholder collaboration, emphasizing it as a tangible effort to build the capacity of local oil palm farmers.
“Accelerating the development of independent oil palm farmers in Sekadau is only possible if all stakeholders work together. The challenges we face can only be overcome through synergy,” he said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com on Thursday (April 10).
Each party in this partnership has specific roles in the program’s implementation, which is set to run through the end of 2026. SPKS is supported by funding from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) through the *Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE)* project. This support is expected to enhance farmers’ ability to apply best practices in plantation management, ultimately improving both productivity and fruit quality.
Also Read:
Imanuel Tibian, ESG Department Head at PT Agro Andalan, stated that the initiative is strategically important to help the company ensure full supply chain alignment with its sustainability commitments.
“We aim to ensure that our entire supply chain is traceable and aligned with sustainability standards. We want to produce palm oil that is not only high in quality but also socially and environmentally responsible,” he said.
Echoing this, PT SMART representative Helena Lumbangaol added that the *Skilled and Sustainable Oil Palm Farmers Program* supports PT AAN—as a supplier to PT SMART—in equipping farmers with the skills to manage their plantations more effectively. At the same time, it helps guarantee the traceability of the palm oil supplied by PT AAN, ensuring it originates from designated and properly managed plantation areas.
“We believe this program benefits all parties involved—smallholders as suppliers of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB), PT AAN as the crude palm oil (CPO) supplier, and SMART as the buyer. Everyone gains from a more transparent and sustainable process,” she explained.
Meanwhile, SPKS Chairman Sabarudin emphasized that the collaboration aims to strengthen the sustainability of the palm oil supply chain from independent smallholders in Indonesia to deforestation-free global markets, through partnerships between farmers and companies.
The program also supports the Indonesian government’s efforts to accelerate the issuance of Plantation Business Registration Letters (STDB) and to prepare farmers for Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification. (P3)
