Newsletter; January 2025
THE GREEN COLUMN
12 Years of RSPO Credit, 12 New Offices for Independent Smallholders
The journey of RSPO Certification for independent smallholders began when one independent smallholder association from Riau successfully obtained RSPO certification in 2013. This means that RSPO certification for independent smallholders is now 12 years old. These 12 years have been significant for smallholders, as they have received support through RSPO credit. Through this credit, 12 cooperative and association offices have been established, all of which were 100% built using funds from the credit received by the cooperatives and associations.
Over the past year, FORTASBI has highlighted the use of credit for environmental protection, social assistance, and business development initiated by RSPO-certified independent smallholder organizations. This time, FORTASBI wants to share about the use of credit funds for building new offices of smallholder organization.
Building offices has become a priority for cooperatives and associations that do not yet have one, as offices are a vital need. They provide a space for cooperatives to meet with members and manage all documents related to certification, production, and member activities effectively. Currently, some cooperatives and associations still lack permanent offices due to limited credit funds.
Independent smallholders place great hope in the continuation of RSPO credit, as it allows them to not only allocate funds for environmental protection, rehabilitation, and social assistance but also to ensure that smallholder organizations have adequate offices. These offices enable them to provide better services to members while offering smallholders a place to gather and coordinate.
2024, FORTASBI Elected New Chair
After H. Narno from Asosiasi Swadaya Amanah Riau led FORTASBI for 10 years, the leadership has now been passed to Sutiyana. Pak Sutiyana is the Chair of KUD Tani Subur, which is also a FORTASBI member operating in Central Kalimantan.
In addition to Pak Sutiyana, the RKA held on December 5, 2024, in Bogor also appointed Ade Akbar from Koperasi Jasa Mutiara Kongbeng, East Kalimantan as Secretary, and Margaretha Nurunnisa as FORTASBI Treasurer. For the 2024–2027 Supervisory Board, Pak Jumadi from KPUD Lestari, North Sumatra; Pak Surianto from Koperasi Sumber Rezeki, South Sumatra; and Tripadukan Purba were elected.
FORTASBI, established in 2014, has now reached its 10th anniversary. As a forum providing services to its member cooperatives and associations, FORTASBI must ensure that smallholders are fully involved in its management. Their involvement is expected to serve as a learning process for managing the organization.
Over the past 10 years, FORTASBI has continued to grow and make an impact. As of 2024, its member base consists of 16,394 smallholders organized into 59 groups across 93 villages, 28 regencies, and 9 provinces. “In the future, we need to make breakthroughs to improve both the welfare of FORTASBI and palm oil smallholders, as well as compliance with national and international regulations such as EUDR,” said Sutiyana.
Furthermore, in the next three years, FORTASBI must advocate for easier access to facilities and infrastructure from the government. FORTASBI needs to assist groups or members in accessing all available program opportunities, particularly funding for independent smallholders, whether from the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) or the Revenue Sharing Fund (DBH) designated for palm oil plantations.
Newsletter January 2025
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