Sustainable palm oil premiums distributed to 40 cooperatives in Jambi
30/12/2024 (Far Eastern Agriculture) - Asian Agri’s smallholder partners in Jambi Province received recognition, with premium payments being distributed from the sale of certified sustainable palm oil for 2023
Forty cooperatives (KUDs) comprising around 12,500 smallholder members received a total amount of more than US$147.24 on 20 December at EV Garden in Jambi, Indonesia. The aim of the programme is to reward oil palm smallholders who adhere to internationally recognised sustainability standards, such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. Among those who were recognised were scheme smallholders who consistently adopted sustainable plantation practices in compliance with certification standards.
“With RSPO certification, we can support the sustainable palm oil industry in international markets, particularly in Europe, where only sustainably sourced palm oil is accepted,” noted Ramli Simarmata, regional head of Asian Agri for Jambi region, adding that the premium payments are expected to benefit over 12,500 smallholders, aligning with Asian Agri’s 5C philosophy. This emphasises that the company’s presence should bring value to the Community, the Country, the Climate, the Customer, and ultimately the Company.
Rudy Rismanto, head of Partnership at Asian Agri, highlighted the role of partnerships in the company’s sustainability strategy. Rahadi, chairman of KUD Sawit Mulia, also noted the many advantages of the partnership model and encouraged smallholders with unproductive plantations to proceed with replanting. Furthermore, Basuki, supervisor of KUD Makmur Rezeki, emphasised the importance of using high-quality seeds as a key factor for successful replanting.