Bulungan Prepares Smallholders for Sustainable Palm Oil Awareness

The Bulungan Regency Government's efforts to implement low-carbon development are progressing across various sectors, including preparing farmers to meet sustainable palm oil plantation standards.

Acting Assistant Two of the Bulungan Regency Government, Iwan Sugiyanta, emphasized the importance for palm oil farmers to adopt nationally recognized sustainable certification standards such as the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). "This ensures that palm oil produced by our farmers can compete in global and national markets," he stated during the opening of the Training for Trainers for Agricultural Extension Workers in Bulungan Regency on Monday, August 26, 2024.

The five-day training, which runs until August 30, 2024, involves 60 field extension workers and is a collaboration between the Bulungan Regency Agriculture Office and the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN). The training covers sustainable certification standards like ISPO and RSPO and the latest information on the palm oil industry. The extension workers are expected to assist smallholder farmers in obtaining one of these certifications.

Bulungan Regency has 25 palm oil plantations, with 84% of the planting area managed by companies and 16% by smallholder farmers. These plantations are spread across nine districts, with Sekatak District having the largest palm oil planting area. To ensure plantation development remains within sustainable guidelines, Bulungan Regency established the Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil (RAD KSB) 2023-2024, which was approved on November 17, 2023. The Bulungan Regency Government recognizes the need for skilled and professional human resources to implement the RAD KSB.

YKAN's Palm Oil Program Manager, Yohanes Ryan, noted that the training aims to bridge the capacity gap for smallholder farmers. In Bulungan, a 2024 study found a 61% productivity gap among smallholders attributed to agronomic and non-agronomic factors such as low-quality seeds, poor soil fertility, drought, pests, and inadequate agronomic practices. 

Land clearing, maintenance, harvesting, and transportation contribute to smallholders' low productivity and investment returns. Challenges include land ownership, technical competence, capital, and entrepreneurship. "These issues are what we aim to address through this training so extension workers can better assist independent smallholders," said Yohanes, who also served as a resource person for the training.

In addition to technical skills, the training will enhance agricultural extension workers' competence, capability, and professionalism in guiding and delivering training. They will also be educated on global trade issues, particularly the importance of environmental protection, such as High Conservation Value (HCV) areas and peatland and forest conservation.

Gunawan Wibisono, YKAN's Terrestrial Program Manager, added that having more extension workers assisting smallholders will help the local government achieve one of Bulungan Regency's visions: becoming a food-sovereign, advanced, and prosperous region. This means Bulungan will independently produce high-quality, sustainable, and environmentally friendly food while respecting cultural diversity. YKAN supports the Bulungan Regency Government in implementing this vision. "We dream that within the next five years, at least one smallholder from Bulungan will achieve sustainable certification standards," Gunawan stated.