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The Agrarian, Structural and Cultural Constraints of Smallholders’ Readiness for Sustainability Standards Implementation: The Case of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil in East Kalimantan

Author

Listed:
  • Arya Hadi Dharmawan

    (Department of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia)

  • Dyah Ita Mardiyaningsih

    (Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia)

  • Faris Rahmadian

    (Center for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia)

  • Bayu Eka Yulian

    (Department of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia)

  • Heru Komarudin

    (Center for International Forestry Research~(CIFOR), Bogor 16115, Indonesia)

  • Pablo Pacheco

    (World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Washington, DC 20037, USA)

  • Jaboury Ghazoul

    (Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Rizka Amalia

    (Department of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia)

Abstract

The expansion of oil palm plantation has caused adverse impacts on the ecosystem. It has been associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss, disturbances to environmental services and livelihood change. The government of Indonesia has made an effort to control the negative effects by issuing relevant policies. One of the policies is Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO)’s sustainability standards to which large-scale plantations and smallholders are obliged to adhere. This study assesses the readiness of two types of smallholders, namely, the nucleus–plasma scheme and independent smallholders to adopt ISPO standards. Using a case study research approach in two oil palm plantation villages in East Kalimantan, the study found out a number of ISPO implementation challenges, grouped into structural and socio-cultural challenges, which make smallholders less ready to adhere to this mandatory policy. Coping with these challenges, this study proposed that land and business legality programs be expedited to strengthen property rights, and that training and education programs be intensified to enhance awareness, knowledge and capacity of smallholders to enable them to comply with sustainability standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Arya Hadi Dharmawan & Dyah Ita Mardiyaningsih & Faris Rahmadian & Bayu Eka Yulian & Heru Komarudin & Pablo Pacheco & Jaboury Ghazoul & Rizka Amalia, 2021. "The Agrarian, Structural and Cultural Constraints of Smallholders’ Readiness for Sustainability Standards Implementation: The Case of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil in East Kalimantan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2611-:d:508385
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ogahara, Zoë & Jespersen, Kristjan & Theilade, Ida & Nielsen, Martin Reinhard, 2022. "Review of smallholder palm oil sustainability reveals limited positive impacts and identifies key implementation and knowledge gaps," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    2. Eka Intan Kumala Putri & Arya Hadi Dharmawan & Otto Hospes & Bayu Eka Yulian & Rizka Amalia & Dyah Ita Mardiyaningsih & Rilus A. Kinseng & Fredian Tonny & Eusebius Pantja Pramudya & Faris Rahmadian & , 2022. "The Oil Palm Governance: Challenges of Sustainability Policy in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, February.
    3. Eusebius Pantja Pramudya & Lukas Rumboko Wibowo & Fitri Nurfatriani & Iman Kasiman Nawireja & Dewi Ratna Kurniasari & Sakti Hutabarat & Yohanes Berenika Kadarusman & Ananda Oemi Iswardhani & Rukaiyah , 2022. "Incentives for Palm Oil Smallholders in Mandatory Certification in Indonesia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-28, April.
    4. de Vos, Rosanne E. & Suwarno, Aritta & Slingerland, Maja & van der Meer, Peter J. & Lucey, Jennifer M., 2023. "Pre-certification conditions of independent oil palm smallholders in Indonesia. Assessing prospects for RSPO certification," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).

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