RSPO Certification Strengthens Market Access for Independent Palm Oil Smallholders

Certification is not merely an audit process or the fulfilment of administrative documents; it is an effort to build strong farmer institutions so they can consistently meet sustainability standards, according to Guntur Cahyo Prabowo, Head of Smallholder Global RSPO. He stated in Jakarta on Saturday that sustainability certification has evolved from simply an instrument for meeting industry standards into an entry point for independent smallholders to gain broader market access, economic incentives, and increased capacity to manage plantations sustainably. Certification requires an entity or organisation capable of ensuring compliance with standards, while trust among farmers must also be built so they are willing to form groups. Of the approximately 2.6 million oil palm farmers in Indonesia, the majority still operate independently and have not joined structured institutions, limiting their access to certification, financing, and markets. Strengthening farmer groups can improve their bargaining position while opening opportunities to access markets more efficiently. The development of international regulations further reinforces the urgency of implementing sustainable certification. The global market, particularly in Europe, increasingly demands a traceability system that can ensure palm oil products come from legal and responsibly managed sources. To support independent smallholders in meeting these demands, RSPO has developed specific standards adapted to field conditions. Through collaboration with local governments, universities, the private sector, and various other stakeholders, RSPO runs assistance programmes covering sustainable cultivation practices, strengthening farmer organisations, and fulfilling certification requirements. RSPO data records that since 2013, global support funds disbursed have reached 5.5 million US dollars, with approximately 1.94 million US dollars allocated for Indonesia. Over the 2018–2026 period, around 89,650 hectares of oil palm land have been certified, involving 41,134 independent smallholders. Additionally, a total of Rp416 billion has been channelled to farmer groups through various incentive schemes. Guntur emphasised that the most important aspect is not just the assistance provided, but the long-term impact on improving welfare and farmers’ ability to implement sustainable practices. Rukaiyah Rafik, Head of the Secretariat of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum (FORTASBI), stated that the benefits of certification do not stop at opening market access. Incentives obtained through sustainability schemes can be used to support community empowerment programmes and environmental restoration activities around plantation areas. Rukaiyah, who is also a Board of Governors member of RSPO, encouraged certified cooperatives and farmer groups to continue expanding their membership and become learning centres for other farmers in the process of pursuing certification.