IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agisys/v224y2025ics0308521x25000095.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Improving yield and profit in smallholder oil palm fields through better agronomy

Author

Listed:
  • Sugianto, Hendra
  • Donough, Christopher R.
  • Monzon, Juan P.
  • Sunawan,
  • Pradiko, Iput
  • Lim, Ya Li
  • Tenorio, Fatima A.
  • Rizzo, Gonzalo
  • Rahutomo, Suroso
  • Agus, Fahmuddin
  • Marwanto, Setiari
  • Slingerland, Maja
  • Cock, James
  • Grassini, Patricio

Abstract

Palm oil production is a major source of income for millions of smallholders in Indonesia, the main palm oil producing country in the world. However, smallholders' yield is low in relation to the attainable yield. Adoption of better management practices (BMPs) as an approach to increase yield and profit has received less attention than certification and replanting programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Sugianto, Hendra & Donough, Christopher R. & Monzon, Juan P. & Sunawan, & Pradiko, Iput & Lim, Ya Li & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Rizzo, Gonzalo & Rahutomo, Suroso & Agus, Fahmuddin & Marwanto, Setiari & Sl, 2025. "Improving yield and profit in smallholder oil palm fields through better agronomy," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:224:y:2025:i:c:s0308521x25000095
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104269
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X25000095
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104269?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cock, James & Prager, Steven & Meinke, Holger & Echeverria, Ruben, 2022. "Labour productivity: The forgotten yield gap," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    2. de Vos, Rosanne E. & Nurfalah, Lisa & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Lim, Ya Li & Monzon, Juan P. & Donough, Christopher R. & Sugianto, Hendra & Dwiyahreni, Asri A. & Winarni, Nurul L. & Mulani, Nadia & Ramadha, 2023. "Shortening harvest interval, reaping benefits? A study on harvest practices in oil palm smallholder farming systems in Indonesia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    3. Sugianto, Hendra & Monzon, Juan P. & Pradiko, Iput & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Lim, Ya Li & Donough, Christopher R. & Sunawan, & Rahutomo, Suroso & Agus, Fahmuddin & Cock, James & Amsar, Joni & Farrasati, , 2023. "First things first: Widespread nutrient deficiencies limit yields in smallholder oil palm fields," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    4. Hoffmann, M.P. & Castaneda Vera, A. & van Wijk, M.T. & Giller, K.E. & Oberthür, T. & Donough, C. & Whitbread, A.M., 2014. "Simulating potential growth and yield of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) with PALMSIM: Model description, evaluation and application," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Monzon, Juan Pablo & Lim, Ya Li & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Farrasati, Rana & Pradiko, Iput & Sugianto, Hendra & Donough, Christopher R. & Rattalino Edreira, Juan I. & Rahutomo, Suroso & Agus, Fahmuddin & , 2023. "Agronomy explains large yield gaps in smallholder oil palm fields," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    6. Hoffmann, Munir P. & Cock, James & Samson, Marianne & Janetski, Noel & Janetski, Kate & Rötter, Reimund P. & Fisher, Myles & Oberthür, Thomas, 2020. "Fertilizer management in smallholder cocoa farms of Indonesia under variable climate and market prices," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    7. Agus, Fahmuddin & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Saleh, Shofia & Purwantomo, Dwi Kuntjoro G. & Yustika, Rahmah D. & Marwanto, Setiari & Suratman, & Sidhu, Manjit Singh & Cock, James & Kam, Suan Pheng & Fairhurs, 2024. "Guiding oil palm intensification through a spatial extrapolation domain framework," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    8. Juan P. Monzon & Maja A. Slingerland & Suroso Rahutomo & Fahmuddin Agus & Thomas Oberthür & José F. Andrade & Antoine Couëdel & Juan I. Rattalino Edreira & Willem Hekman & Rob van den Beuken & Fandi H, 2021. "Fostering a climate-smart intensification for oil palm," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(7), pages 595-601, July.
    9. Euler, Michael & Hoffmann, Munir P. & Fathoni, Zakky & Schwarze, Stefan, 2016. "Exploring yield gaps in smallholder oil palm production systems in eastern Sumatra, Indonesia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 111-119.
    10. Cock, J. & Kam, S.P. & Cook, S. & Donough, C. & Lim, Y.L. & Jines-Leon, A. & Lim, C.H. & Primananda, S. & Yen, B.T. & Mohanaraj, S.N. & Samosir, Y.M.S. & Oberthür, T., 2016. "Learning from commercial crop performance: Oil palm yield response to management under well-defined growing conditions," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 99-111.
    11. Lim, Ya Li & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Monzon, Juan P. & Sugianto, Hendra & Donough, Christopher R. & Rahutomo, Suroso & Agus, Fahmuddin & Slingerland, Maja A. & Darlan, Nuzul H. & Dwiyahreni, Asri A. & Fa, 2023. "Too little, too imbalanced: Nutrient supply in smallholder oil palm fields in Indonesia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Agus, Fahmuddin & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Saleh, Shofia & Purwantomo, Dwi Kuntjoro G. & Yustika, Rahmah D. & Marwanto, Setiari & Suratman, & Sidhu, Manjit Singh & Cock, James & Kam, Suan Pheng & Fairhurs, 2024. "Guiding oil palm intensification through a spatial extrapolation domain framework," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    2. Thoumazeau, Alexis & Mettauer, Romane & Turinah, & Junedi, Heri & Baron, Victor & Chéron-Bessou, Cécile & Ollivier, Jean, 2024. "Effects of fertilization practices and understory on soil health and oil palm performances in smallholdings: An Indonesian case study," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    3. Hoffmann, M.P. & Donough, C.R. & Cook, S.E. & Fisher, M.J. & Lim, C.H. & Lim, Y.L. & Cock, J. & Kam, S.P. & Mohanaraj, S.N. & Indrasuara, K. & Tittinutchanon, P. & Oberthür, T., 2017. "Yield gap analysis in oil palm: Framework development and application in commercial operations in Southeast Asia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 12-19.
    4. Asante, Paulina A. & Rahn, Eric & Zuidema, Pieter A. & Rozendaal, Danaё M.A. & van der Baan, Maris E.G. & Läderach, Peter & Asare, Richard & Cryer, Nicholas C. & Anten, Niels P.R., 2022. "The cocoa yield gap in Ghana: A quantification and an analysis of factors that could narrow the gap," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    5. Abdulai, Issaka & Hoffmann, Munir P. & Jassogne, Laurence & Asare, Richard & Graefe, Sophie & Tao, Hsiao-Hang & Muilerman, Sander & Vaast, Philippe & Van Asten, Piet & Läderach, Peter & Rötter, Reimun, 2020. "Variations in yield gaps of smallholder cocoa systems and the main determining factors along a climate gradient in Ghana," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    6. Lim, Ya Li & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Monzon, Juan P. & Sugianto, Hendra & Donough, Christopher R. & Rahutomo, Suroso & Agus, Fahmuddin & Slingerland, Maja A. & Darlan, Nuzul H. & Dwiyahreni, Asri A. & Fa, 2023. "Too little, too imbalanced: Nutrient supply in smallholder oil palm fields in Indonesia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    7. 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).
    8. de Vos, Rosanne E. & Nurfalah, Lisa & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Lim, Ya Li & Monzon, Juan P. & Donough, Christopher R. & Sugianto, Hendra & Dwiyahreni, Asri A. & Winarni, Nurul L. & Mulani, Nadia & Ramadha, 2023. "Shortening harvest interval, reaping benefits? A study on harvest practices in oil palm smallholder farming systems in Indonesia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    9. Abdul-Hamid, Asma-Qamaliah & Ali, Mohd Helmi & Osman, Lokhman Hakim & Tseng, Ming-Lang & Lim, Ming K., 2022. "Industry 4.0 quasi-effect between circular economy and sustainability: Palm oil industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    10. Rhebergen, Tiemen & Fairhurst, Thomas & Whitbread, Anthony & Giller, Ken E. & Zingore, Shamie, 2018. "Yield gap analysis and entry points for improving productivity on large oil palm plantations and smallholder farms in Ghana," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 14-25.
    11. Monzon, Juan Pablo & Lim, Ya Li & Tenorio, Fatima A. & Farrasati, Rana & Pradiko, Iput & Sugianto, Hendra & Donough, Christopher R. & Rattalino Edreira, Juan I. & Rahutomo, Suroso & Agus, Fahmuddin & , 2023. "Agronomy explains large yield gaps in smallholder oil palm fields," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    12. Firna Varina & Sri Hartoyo & Nunung Kusnadi & Amzul Rifin, 2020. "The Determinants of Technical Efficiency of Oil Palm Smallholders in Indonesia," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(6), pages 89-93.
    13. 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.
    14. Abera, Fetien & Garcia, Magali & Meinke, Holger & Negra, Christine & Obokoh, Nompumelelo & Smith, Allison Grove, 2024. "Advancing inclusive and effective agri-food systems research for development: A short communication," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    15. Claudia Dislich & Elisabeth Hettig & Jan Salecker & Johannes Heinonen & Jann Lay & Katrin M Meyer & Kerstin Wiegand & Suria Tarigan, 2018. "Land-use change in oil palm dominated tropical landscapes—An agent-based model to explore ecological and socio-economic trade-offs," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, January.
    16. Bernhard Dalheimer & Christoph Kubitza & Bernhard Brümmer, 2022. "Technical efficiency and farmland expansion: Evidence from oil palm smallholders in Indonesia," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(4), pages 1364-1387, August.
    17. Lotte S. Woittiez & Maja Slingerland & Meine van Noordwijk & Abner J. Silalahi & Joost van Heerwaarden & Ken E. Giller, 2024. "People, Palms, and Productivity: Testing Better Management Practices in Indonesian Smallholder Oil Palm Plantations," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, September.
    18. Dislich, Claudia & Hettig, Elisabeth & Heinonen, Johannes & Lay, Jann & Meyer, Katrin M. & Tarigan, Suria & Wiegand, Kerstin, 2015. "Towards an integrated ecological-economic land-use change model," EFForTS Discussion Paper Series 17, University of Goettingen, Collaborative Research Centre 990 "EFForTS, Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems (Sumatra, Indonesia)".
    19. Jelsma, Idsert & Turinah, & Gay, Frédéric & Ollivier, Jean & Rapidel, Bruno, 2024. "Collective action, replanting and resilience; Key lessons from 40 years of smallholder oil palm cultivation in the Ophir plantation, Indonesia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    20. Ghislain Aihounton & Luc Christiaensen, 2023. "Does Agricultural Intensification Pay?," World Bank Publications - Reports 39701, The World Bank Group.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:224:y:2025:i:c:s0308521x25000095. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agsy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.