Malaysian smallholder farmers obtain RSPO certification

SOME 34 independent smallholders in Perak, Malaysia have obtained sustainable palm oil certification from  the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) on 20 March 2015.

The RSPO certification, which was made possible through the partnership of Cargill, Wild Asia, and Solidaridad, will connect the farmers to a global certified sustainable supply chain. It is hoped to encourage more smallholder farmers to join the program, which aims to develop a replicable, self-sustaining process that will empower independent smallholders, dealers, and mills to achieve certified sustainable palm oil production.

The project, which began in 2013, involves a comprehensive network of independent players in the supply chain. It united smallholders, oil palm fruit dealers, millers, and refiners to achieve a common goal: to improve productivity and smallholders’ incomes in a sustainable way.

Cargill, Wild Asia, and Solidaridad have been providing oil palm smallholders in Malaysia assistance and technical training to help them obtain RSPO certification. The goal is to help an additional 100 independent smallholders in the country achieve RSPO sustainable palm oil production standards by the end of this year.

RSPO certification, driven by Cargill as part of its commitment to achieve a fully sustainable supply chain, paves the way for long-term production of RSPO certified palm oil in Malaysia.

Cargill is currently working with the Wild Asia Group Scheme (WAGS) and the oil palm mill to boost the participation of smallholders, encourage new members, and ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. Efforts toward these goals include the provision of incentives for the current group of certified smallholders to enable them to continue producing certified sustainable palm oil toward the overall goal of improving Malaysia’s palm oil supply chain sustainability.

After a baseline assessment of smallholders and an oil palm fruit dealer, Teck Joo Chan, located in Air Kuning, Perak, WAGS has provided the management system to support and certify independent smallholders based on RSPO standards. The assistance includes giving smallholders direct training and support on best agricultural practices. They were also trained on improved farm management practices, health and safety, and environmental and social impact management.

Two new palm fruit dealers have joined the smallholder project following the initial success of the pilot WAGS program. ( Thumbnail photo: Elaeis guineensis by Marco Schmidt)